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The Testing of Jim MacLean 


LABRADOR TALES 

of DILLON WALLACE 


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dor . A Boy’s Life of Wilfred T. Grenfell. 
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A LITTLE WAY UP THE SHORE THEY ENTERED THE MOUTH OF THE 

KENAMOU RIVER. 





The Testing of Jim 
MacLean 

A Tale of the Wilds of Labrador 
By 

DILLON WALLACE 

Author of “ Grit-a-Plenty” “ The Gaunt Gray Wolff* etc. 


ILLUSTRATED 



New York 


Chicago 


Fleming H. Revell Company 

and Edinburgh 



London 


Copyright, 1924, by 
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 



Printed in the United States of Amerioa 



New York: 158 Fifth Avenue 
Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave. 
London: 21 Paternoster Square 
Edinburgh: 75 Princes Street 


Contents 


I. 

A Letter . 

9 

II. 

The Disappearance of James Mac- 
Lean ...... 

21 

III. 

The Pilot of the Gray Goose 

31 

IV. 

Indian Jake, the Half-Breed 

46 

V. 

The Cave in the Mountains 

51 

VI. 

A Suspicious Character 

59 

VII. 

A Warning. 

65 

VIII. 

Adieu to Civilization 

80 

IX. 

Toiling on the River Trail . 

88 

X. 

The Lake of Tragedy 

101 

XI. 

“ Confess or Clear Yourself! ” . 

108 

XII. 

The Leather Wallet 

116 

XIII. 

The Blizzard. 

124 

XIV. 

The Struggle Down the Trail . 

135 

XV. 

The End of Hope .... 

146 

XVI. 

Billy Hand Gives an Alarm 

151 

XVII. 

Troop One Makes a Rescue . 

167 


6 


CONTENTS 


XVIII. 

Back from the Door of Death 

. 178 

XIX. 

The Welcome at the Jug 

. 188 

XX. 

A Startling Revelation 

. 202 

XXI. 

Preparing for Battle 

. 208 

XXII. 

The Challenge .... 

. 223 

XXIII. 

The Fight in the Bunk House 

. 230 

XXIV. 

A Fire and a Robbery . 

. 239 

XXV. 

The Lumberjacks’ Battle 

. 247 

XXVI. 

The Raid on the Store . 

. 253 

XXVII. 

The Silent Indian . 

. 258 

XXVIII. 

The Mystery is Cleared 

. 266 


I 

A' LETTER 


“-"1 ^ O you know what this letter contains, 
I Mr. Jagger? ” Jim MacLean lifted his 
eyes from the typewritten sheets that 
had held his attention for ten minutes and looked 
across the flat-topped mahogany desk into the 
smug, round face of the lawyer. 

“ Yes,” answered the attorney, who had been 
watching Jim narrowly as he read. “ At the time 
your late father executed his will, and shortly be¬ 
fore his ill-fated departure for the north, he deliv¬ 
ered me a copy of the letter for my personal guid¬ 
ance as executor of his will.” 

“ Well, he appears to have cut out my work for 
me! ” 

“ No, he merely expresses a wish in that letter 
as to the course you should take in case of his 
demise. You are free to follow that wish or not as 
you elect. In other words, he has put it up to 
you.” 

“ That’s plain enough. He asks me to quit col¬ 
lege and go into the woods to work as a lumber¬ 
jack! He says he wants me to learn the lumber 
business from ‘ the ground up ’ ”—Jim glanced for 
a moment at the letter which he held in his hand— 
“ and prepare myself to step into his shoes.” 

9 


10 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


“ Ex-act-ly, ex-act-ly, my boy.” 

“ Give up college! That’s a hard pill to swal¬ 
low! Dad speaks here of my poor record in col¬ 
lege. I did have one condition last year, but I 
pulled everything else off. I made up the condi¬ 
tion and had a good standing in every subject I 
carried this year, and on top of that I’ve made both 
the ’varsity baseball and football teams, and won 
the college boxing championship. The junior and 
senior years are the big ones, and I’ve got to miss 
them! ” 

“ No, my boy,” patronized the lawyer, “ you 
have an election ” 

“ Don’t call me ‘ my boy,’ nor ( my man ’! ” Jim 
broke in irritably. “ I’m neither your boy nor a 
servant! Call me by my name.” 

“ Oh, very well. Shall I call you Mr. MacLean 
or James? Which is your pleasure?” asked the 
lawyer ironically. 

“ Call me < Jim ’ as you always have,” the young 
man exploded. “ Now let’s get down to business. 
Explain the situation, please.” 

“ You have the positiveness and directness of 
your late father, which is a virtue,” observed the 
lawyer. “ What would you have me explain ? ” 

“ I beg your pardon, if I have been rude, but 
things—things have sort of upset me—the sudden 
report of Dad’s death—Jim paused for a mo¬ 
ment to swallow a lump that was forcing itself up 
into his throat, “•—and now here’s this letter asking 
me to go away from everybody I know! Three 
years ago Mother died, now Father is gone, and on 
top of it I’m to go to a strange land where I 


JL LETTER 11 

Lave no friends, and abandon all my plans for the 
future.” 

u I will admit it is an unhappy state of affairs,” 
remarked the lawyer coldly. 

“ Well, I’ll not trouble you again with my per¬ 
sonal feelings. I beg your pardon. I may as well 
meet things as they come, first as last,” said Jim 
with assumed cheerfulness. “ Dad says in this let¬ 
ter that you will explain to me the condition of his 
financial affairs.” 

“ The condition is this.” Jagger, the lawyer, 
resting an elbow upon each arm of his swivel chair, 
placed the tips of his fingers together, and leaning 
his head back assumed a thoughtfully judicial air. 
“ The only assets of your late father’s estate that 
I have been able to discover, are, first, his home on 
Prospect avenue, which he leaves to you free and 
clear of all indebtedness, but with the restriction 
that you are not to dispose of it or any of the 
hereditaments pertaining to it, which includes fur¬ 
nishings and other chattels, until you have reached 
the age of twenty-five, when you will be at liberty 
to do as you please with the property. Do you un¬ 
derstand ? Nothing in the meantime is to be sold.” 

“ Yes, I understand. I heard you read the will, 
and I recall this provision, and that Dad set aside 
a sum of money to keep the property up and to 
pay the wages of old Sandy Dumphry and Mar¬ 
garet, who are to be retained by me as servants. 
This sum was also to be drawn upon to pay my 
expenses in college.” 

“ Ex-act-ly. The sum of money set aside by the 
will was twenty thousand dollars, which would have 


12 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


been ample to pay taxes and insurance and care for 
necessary repairs, as well as the wages of the ser¬ 
vants and maintenance of yourself. But I find 
only eight thousand dollars in the bank, and no 
other available assets. This eight thousand dollars 
is the second of my list of assets of the estate.” 

“ Only eight thousand dollars! ” exclaimed Jim 
in amazement. “ I can’t understand it! I can’t 
believe it! ” 

u Nevertheless it is a fact. There are no other 
available assets.” The lawyer paused impressively. 
“ The third on my list is the logging camp and saw¬ 
mill in Labrador, of which you are to come into 
possession at the age of twenty-one, two years 
hence. Fourth, and last, there is a fund placed in 
trust with the Bank of Montreal to finance the log¬ 
ging camp and mill during these two years, when 
you will reach your majority. Any balance then 
remaining is to be paid over to you. This trust 
fund can only be drawn upon by me as executor, 
you understand, and only to meet the necessary ex¬ 
penses of the Labrador business, and for no other 
purpose.” 

“ I understand. Go on.” 

“ It was your late father’s expectation that 
within this two-year period the Labrador enter¬ 
prise, with proper management, would become self- 
sustaining and at the end of that time prove a 
highly profitable investment. I am free to say that 
I have never shared this optimistic view.” 

“ Do you mean to say that the Labrador prop¬ 
erty, the eight thousand dollars and our home here 
are all there is? ” Jim asked in amazement. 


A LETTER 


13 


u That is all” said the lawyer positively. 

“ I can’t understand it! ” Jim looked skeptical. 
“ Since Mother died three years ago Dad has 
talked over his affairs a good many times with me. 
Just before he went to Labrador he told me that 
he had two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in 
gilt-edged securities—bonds or something—that he 
intended for me and would never part from! And 
what became of his wholesale lumber business—the 
money he received for it? You and John Snook 
paid him cash for it when you bought it, didn’t 
you ? ” 

“ I am as much puzzled over these things as 
yourself,” assured Jagger, eyeing Jim keenly. “ I 
have searched in every conceivable place for these 
securities and for additional assets, but have failed 
to find them. I hoped that your late father might 
have taken you into his confidence in this matter, 
though it was his custom to consult me in even the 
most trivial matters connected with his business. 
We must conclude that he disposed of the securi¬ 
ties and probably lost the money they represented 
in some unfortunate venture.” 

“There’s something strange about it! I can’t 
understand it! ” 

“ Is there no secret place about your house where 
your late father might have placed papers for safe 
keeping ? ” suggested the lawyer, keeping his sharp 
eyes on Jim’s face. 

“Hone that I know about,” and there was no 
doubt of Jim’s sincerity. 

“ Peculiar. Let us say peculiar. Decidedly so. 
The conditions as they exist are most puzzling.” 


14 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“Now it’s up to me to decide whether I shall 
accept Dad’s suggestion and go to Labrador and 
work as a lumberjack or not. If I decide not to 
go, what then ? ” 

ic You may complete your college course, and 
your expenses will be paid out of the eight thou¬ 
sand dollars in bank.” 

“ And after paying my college expenses, ser¬ 
vants’ wages, taxes, and upkeep expenses of the 
property there wouldn’t be much left.” 

“ You need not let that question interfere with 
your decision to return to college. No, indeed, no. 
It will be a pleasure, a great pleasure indeed, my 
boy, if I am privileged to personally advance you 
funds to meet your college expenses, and to assist 
you in carrying the property until such time as you 
are in position through your own earnings to meet 
the expense yourself, or until your twenty-fifth 
year, when you will be free to dispose of it.” 

“ And take a mortgage on the property ? ” 

“ You will not be in position to legally encum¬ 
ber the property with a mortgage until you are 
twenty-five years of age. You will naturally de¬ 
sire that our dealings be on a business basis. You 
may give me your personal notes for such advances 
as I may make, and I will rely upon your honour 
to renew such notes upon your reaching your ma¬ 
jority. When you reach your twenty-fifth year 
you may give me a mortgage on the property, if 
you wish, in liquidation of the notes,” explained 
the attorney ingratiatingly. 

“ I see the point. Well, I’m going to Labrador,” 
said Jim decisively. 


A LETTER 


15 


“ Do not be too hasty in your decision,” sug¬ 
gested Mr. Jagger, soothingly. “ Perhaps I should 
go into greater details. As I have said, we have 
eight thousand—to be exact, eight thousand two 
hundred thirty-six dollars in the bank. The ser¬ 
vants are paid $1,200 a year salary, and we also 
pay their marketing and fuel bills. Adding to this 
expense taxes and insurance, we have an annual 
cost of about three thousand dollars to carry the 
property. Taxes have been paid this year, and 
none will fall due until next July, and there will 
be no insurance falling due for nearly two years. 
With these deductions from the annual expense we 
shall be able to carry the property for about three 
years. Then you will need money, and you will 
need it badly. I do not anticipate any material 
income will be realized by you from the Labrador 
property. Your earning powers will be much 
greater if you continue in college now and grad¬ 
uate. Your college diploma will assist you in get¬ 
ting upon your financial feet quickly. The condi¬ 
tions I have explained were not realized by your 
father at the time he expressed that wish that you 
go to Labrador. If he were here now I am sure 
he would make no such request. I still urge that 
you accept my offer to advance you funds.” 

“ It’s mighty kind of you to make the offer to 
advance me money, Mr. Jagger, but I’ve got to 
decline it,” said Jim positively. “Dad usually 
knew pretty well where he stood financially, and 
he must have had some good reason for wishing me 
to go to Labrador. Anyhow, he expressed a de¬ 
cided wish that I go to the logging camp9, and his 


16 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


wish is sufficient to decide me. It’s the last thing 
he ever asked me to do, and I’ll never be happy 
unless I go.” 

“ I would suggest that you take two weeks 
in which to consider the matter,” cautioned the 
lawyer. 

“ I don’t need any time to consider it. I’m 
going,” repeated Jim with an air of finality. 
“ Because Dad wished it, I’d go anyhow, even if 
I had all the money I expected he’d leave me.” 

“ Your position is most commendable, but,” sug¬ 
gested Jagger, “ are you sure you understand all 
the conditions ? I will interpret them to you, and 
then I would suggest you take a fortnight in which 
to consider the matter further.” 

“Fire away,” said Jim, “I’m listening.” 

“ You are to go into the lumber camps, should 
you elect to go, on exactly the same plane as any 
other employee. Dawes, the superintendent, will 
assign your work-” 

“Dawes!” interjected Jim. “I thought Pat 
McCarthy was superintendent ? ” 

“ I have deemed it necessary to supersede Mc¬ 
Carthy,” explained the lawyer. “ Fleming Dawes 
is now superintendent-” 

“But Pat McCarthy has been with Dad for 
years!” interrupted Jim. “He has spent all his 
life in logging camps! He was superintendent 
for Dad up in the Quebec camps before Dad sold 
them!” 

“ He became too officious, and declined to obey 
instructions. Dawes is both a practical lumberman 
and a trained forester,” volunteered the lawyer. 




A LETTER 


17 


u At any rate, I have appointed him superintendent 
and this appointment is final. 

u You will work under Mr. Dawes in any posi¬ 
tion in which he places you. Your relationship to 
your late father will give you no authority or 
standing. You will succeed or fail upon the qual¬ 
ity of your service. If your work is not done 
satisfactorily, or if for any other reason Mr. Dawes 
deems it wise or necessary for the best interests of 
the business, he may dismiss you, as he would dis¬ 
miss any unprofitable employee.” 

“ And then what? ” asked Jim 

■“ If you are dismissed, or if for any reason you 
leave the employment of your own volition, you 
will be thrown upon your own resources.” 

“ Is this man Dawes to be the sole judge as to 
what is good cause for dismissal ? ” Jim asked with 
asperity. 

“ Certainly. He is a responsible man and a 
man of judgment.” 

“ There is nothing in this letter that indicates 
anybody is to have power to dismiss me from my 
own property,” declared Jim with some heat, after 
hastily scanning the typewritten sheets. “ Dad 
says ‘ go into the camp and work as an employee 
and learn the business from the ground up.’ He 
don’t say that I’m not to use my brains and not to 
make suggestions if I see things going wrong.” 

“ That phrase you quote, 6 as an employee,’ is 
the crux of the matter. Mr. Dawes, our superin¬ 
tendent, is a logging and sawmill expert. He will 
know whether things are going wrong or otherwise, 
and he will not be inclined to accept instructions 


18 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


from one of his employees, particularly from a col¬ 
lege boy who is wholly inexperienced and has every¬ 
thing to learn about the business. It is his duty 
to see, and he will see, that things go right. As 
executor of your father’s will I am manager of the 
estate. As manager I have appointed Mr. Dawes 
to his position and I will not interfere with him 
in his administration of the camp. Any interfer¬ 
ence on my part might lead to a failure that would 
result in serious financial loss to the business. The 
superintendent has the power to discharge, at his 
option, any employee, and you will be an employee. 
I have told you this that you may understand the 
situation thoroughly before making your election.” 

“ Dad never meant that I should be discharged 
in that way at anybody’s whim!” declared Jim 
defiantly. “ But I am going. I have decided.” 

“ Permit me to urge again that it will be well 
if you weigh the matter carefully for a fortnight 
at least-” 

“ But I’ve decided,” interrupted Jim. “ I’m 
going. It’s settled.” 

“ I was about to remark,” continued the lawyer, 
“ that it is a matter of considerable importance to 
you. Once you have gone to Labrador there will 
be no turning back and resuming college. You will 
recall that the court has duly appointed me your 
legal guardian. As your guardian it is my duty 
to advise you what I deem the best course for you 
to take, both to conserve your present and future 
interests. I warn you against ignoring this advice. 
I am under no obligation to advance you personal 
funds to make it possible for you to complete your 



A LETTER 


19 


college course or for any other purpose. I have 
done this because of my desire to have you shape 
your life for success. Should you now see fit to 
ignore my advice, I cannot again renew the offer 
to assist you financially. In case you go to Labra¬ 
dor you will consider the offer finally withdrawn. 
As I have said, I am taking this position wholly 
with your future in view.” 

“ HI certainly be burning the bridges behind 
me,” Jim grinned. 

“ Yes, and you will find life in a logging camp 
distasteful and the labour exceedingly hard. In¬ 
deed, it is the hardest kind of physical labour, and 
you are not accustomed to work with your hands.” 

“ Well, HI burn the bridges,” said Jim, taking 
his hat from the lawyer’s desk, where he had placed 
it upon entering. “ I don’t care to be a molly¬ 
coddle. I’ve never done any real work, and I guess 
it’s time to begin, and the sooner I get hardened 
to it the better.” 

“ Very well,” said the lawyer, coldly, “ it is 
your election ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ When will you be prepared to leave ? ” 

u Next week. Shall I get my transportation ex¬ 
penses from you ? ” 

“ Yes, your passage will be paid from the trust 
fund.” 

“ All right. I’ll be here one week from to-day.” 

Jim rose to his feet as he spoke, deep-chested, 
broad-shouldered, big-boned, he towered like a 
young giant above Jagger, the lawyer, who had 
also risen. A smile lighted his face as he tossed 


20 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


his head to throw back a thick lock of red hair 
from his forehead, which suggested to the lawyer 
a lion’s mane. 

“ I beg your pardon again, sir, for my rudeness.” 

“ That is all right—quite all right,” assured the 
lawyer, extending a fishy, flabby hand and winc¬ 
ing under the pressure of Jim’s big palm. “ You 
have the week in which to change your mind, you 
know.” 

“ All settled! ” said Jim with a snap of his 
square jaws. “ I’m going to get down to business. 
It appears to be what Dad wished. See you in a 
week.” 


n 


THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JAMES 
MacLEAN 

S OME jolt!” Jim exploded, as lie reached 
the street. “ Two reasons why I’ve got to 
give up college and go to the camp. Dad 
asked me to go in that letter, and Dad usually 
knew what he was doing. That’s one mighty good 
reason. Jagger dont want me to go, and that’s 
another mighty good reason why I should go. I 
wouldn’t trust that man around the corner. He’s 
as crooked as a snake’s trail. Any advice he gives 
me is to help himself get his talons on Dad’s prop¬ 
erty, and not for my benefit.” 

He strode up Main street with a long, swinging 
gait, turned into High street, and finally halted 
where High street crossed Prospect avenue at the 
summit of the hill. 

For several minutes Jim stood in silence, gaz¬ 
ing out over the gleaming waters of Lake Ontario 
toward the distant horizon where water and sky 
line met. Beyond his vision lay the Canadian 
shore, and somewhere out there to the northward 
the limitless wilderness that reached, unbroken and 
unpeopled, save by wandering Indian hunters, to 
the faraway logging camps in eastern Labrador 
where he was presently to go and struggle for a 
place in the world of work and business. 

21 


22 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“ Me a lumberjack! ” He held up bis bands 
and surveyed them with a grin. “Fine pair of 
bands you are for a lumberjack to own. You’re 
big and strong, but never did a stroke of really 
bard work in your life, did you? You ought to 
be ashamed of yourselves! Well, you’re due for 
some work now, and this time next year you’ll be 
adorned with a fine set of callouses, or I’m a poor 
guesser. You’ll be as bard as steel, too. Eather 
sudden, but serves you right. You’ve been a pair 
of big loafers! When Dad was here be asked you 
to work in the sawmill during summer vacations 
so that you’d learn bow, but you always begged off. 
Now you’re in for it good and plenty, and you’ve 
got to learn the best way you can through bard 
knocks! Serves you right! ” 

The business section of the town lay below him, 
reaching down to the lake front. His eyes rested 
on the wharves and great wholesale lumber yards, 
formerly owned by bis father, but the previous 
year sold to Jagger and Snooks. Two or three 
schooners were loading cargoes of lumber. 

“ Something strange about that deal,” said Jim. 
tt Dad sold the business for one hundred fifty thou¬ 
sand dollars, and not a cent of it to be found! 
Now I recall it, Jagger didn’t answer me when I 
asked if he and Snooks had paid Dad cash for the 
business. I’ve got to be careful in my dealings 
with Jagger and keep my eyes open every minute. 
Wish Dad had told me more about his affairs! 
Jagger would like to get our house, too. Wants 
to lend me money to go to college and get me bound 
down with a debt to him. Thinks he’ll tie me up 


THE DISAPPEARANCE 


23 


in that way and get the house in the end! IPs the 
best house in Highville, and he wants to live in it.” 

Jim ruminated on many things as he walked 
slowly up Prospect avenue. His father had gone 
to Labrador in the spring of the previous year to 
look over timber lands that he had recently ac¬ 
quired, and to supervise the establishment of log¬ 
ging camps and the erection of a sawmill. He was 
to have returned on the last coastal steamer before 
ice closed navigation in the fall, leaving Pat Mc¬ 
Carthy, his superintendent, in charge of the winter 
logging operations. He did not return, and 
though Jim had no word from him he rested in 
the assurance that his father had decided at the 
last moment to spend the winter in camp, and had 
failed to mail a letter announcing the fact in time 
to catch the last boat. It was not until the middle 
of June, when Jim returned from college, that 
Jagger told him of his father’s death, though a 
letter, reaching Jagger in March, had informed the 
lawyer of the fact and given details. 

“ Why didn’t you tell me of this at the time ? ” 
Jim asked, when he had recovered from the first 
shock. 

“ I feared that it might interfere with your 
work in college, and I was also hopeful that better 
news might come to us in the spring. It would 
not have helped matters in the least, or been any 
satisfaction to you to have been told earlier, and 
it certainly would have operated as a serious set¬ 
back to you,” was the lawyer’s plausible excuse. 

The letter, written in December, by Pat Mc¬ 
Carthy, the superintendent, stated that Mr. Mac- 


24 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


Lean, with two Indian guides, had gone into the 
wilderness on a hunting expedition in the middle 
of August, expecting to return in two weeks, and 
in season to take passage on the coastal mail boat. 
Several weeks later one of the guides returned to 
camp stating that Mr. MacLean and the other 
guide had disappeared. Searchers had been sent 
out, but no trace of the missing men had been dis¬ 
covered. 

The letter had made no suggestion of suspicion 
of foul play against the guide that had returned, 
but Jim, upon reading it, suggested to Jagger that 
it seemed to him there were grounds for such sus¬ 
picion, and Jagger agreed with him. 

Jim declared that he would go to Labrador im¬ 
mediately and organize an expedition to make a 
personal search for his father and investigation of 
the scene of his disappearance, but Jagger opposed 
and discouraged such an undertaking. He assured 
Jim that everything had been done to find his 
father that wilderness experts could do, and that 
he, as Jim’s legal guardian, could not give his con¬ 
sent. He further pointed out that such an expedi¬ 
tion would entail the expenditure of a considerable 
amount of money, and even though it were war¬ 
ranted, as he felt it was not, the will must be pro¬ 
bated and he must receive authority from the court 
before he could draw upon bank deposits for neces¬ 
sary funds to finance it. 

And so two months had passed since Jim’s re¬ 
turn from college and the day when Jagger had 
broken the news of his father’s death to him. It 
was now the middle of August, and after this lapse 


THE DISAPPEARANCE 


25 


of time, without previous hint of its existence, 
Jagger had called Jim to the office and presented 
him with the letter written by his father more than 
a year earlier. The letter and the disclosures of 
the attorney had caused him, as we have seen, to 
revise all his plans for the future and had changed 
his outlook upon life. 

Jim turned up the walk that led to the house and 
entered the dining room through a side door. 
There he found old Margaret Dumphry laying the 
table for tea. 

“Margaret,” said Jim, throwing himself into a 
chair, “ behold a pauper who is henceforth to earn 
his bread and butter as a lumberjack. I’m leaving 
for Labrador next week to work in the logging 
camps.” 

“ Noo, lad! Noo!” she exclaimed. “ Ye’ll 
never be doin’ that! ” 

“ True as gospel. Jagger gave me a letter to-day 
that Dad left with him last year, and in it Dad 
asks me to go, so I’m going. Anyhow, Jagger tells 
me all the money is gone except this house and 
enough to keep it running for two or three years, 
and there’s nothing left for me but to go to work. 
Where’s Sandy ? ” 

“ In the kitchen, lad. I’ll call him.” 

Margaret and her husband Sandy had been with 
the family as long as Jim could remember. Mar¬ 
garet, indeed, had been his nurse through his baby 
and boyhood years. The two old servants had al¬ 
most a parental interest in him, and he, on his side, 
took his confidences and his troubles to them for 
the sympathy he knew would never fail him. 


26 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


When Margaret a moment later returned with 
Sandy, Jim related to them the occurrences of the 
afternoon, while the two nodded their old heads 
knowingly to each other, interjecting: “I tould 
ye so! ” “ Ye poor laddie! ” “ Jasper Jagger is 
a cute mon, now! ” “ He’s a rascal, is that 

lawyer! ” 

“ So you see,” said Jim, in concluding, “ I must 
go to the camps and go to work, and give up 
college.” 

“Aye, ye must go to the camps, lad, and I’ll 
warn ye to look oot for that mon Dawes,” said 
Sandy. “He’ll be Jasper Jagger’s mon. Hould 
cloos to Pat McCarthy. He’ll stand by ye, lad.” 

“I don’t like Jagger, I’ll admit,” agreed Jim, 
“but he was Dad’s lawyer, and Dad seemed to 
trust him. He may be playing fair. I can’t un¬ 
derstand, though, why he waited two months be¬ 
fore telling me of Dad’s death, and then another 
two months before giving me the letter.” 

“ I’ll tell ye,” volunteered Sandy. “ When 
Jasper was a young mon just starting in the prac¬ 
tice of law, and your father was a young mon just 
building up his lumber business, he let Jasper at¬ 
tend to his legal matters to help the young lawyer 
get started. Jasper was honest them days, but he’s 
grown to be grasping and a bit beyond honesty 
when he sees a chance to get anither’s property 
without getting heemsel in trouble. Of late Mees- 
ter MacLean had suspicions of heem, and he had a 
close watch when he was dealing with Jasper, and 
Jasper was keen enough to keep straight with 
Meester MacLean while Meester MacLean lived, 


THE DISAPPEARANCE 


27 


and there was no cause to go to another lawyer, 
for Jasper is a good lawyer and it may be as 
honest as most of them, for I’m warnin’ ye, lad, 
they all need watchin’.” 

“ But why did Jagger wait two months before 
telling me of Dad’s death ? ” asked Jim, “ and 
then why did he keep that letter another two 
months before he gave it to me ? ” 

“ ’Tis beyond my ken,” admitted Sandy. “ The 
mon was here day in and day out searching every 
nook and cranny. He warned Margaret and me to 
write ye no word of yer father’s death, laddy, 
sayin’ it would spoil yer college. I have a confes¬ 
sion to make to ye, lad, and to Margaret. There’s 
not much I’m ever able to keep from Margaret, and 
this I did keep from her.” There was a twinkle 
in Sandy’s eye as he paused for a moment to glance 
at his wife. “ I knew about the letter, and Jasper 
was standing by when Meester MacLean told me 
aboot it, and told me he was askin’ you in it to go 
to Labrador. There’s something wrong in the mon 
holding the letter so long. I ha’ my suspicions 
he’d never given it to ye if he’d been left to his 
own actions, but I stopped in his office last evenin’ 
and asked if he’d given it to ye yet, and he made 
a pretence he’d forgotten it.” 

“ I see! ” said Jim. “ That proves that there’s 
some reason why he don’t want me to go north. 
He never would have given me the letter if you 
hadn’t asked him about it, and he was afraid I’d 
learn about it through you.” 

“ Noo wait a bit lad. I have something for ye.” 

Sandy retired to the kitchen to return presently 


28 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


with a sealed envelope, which he handed to Jim, 
explaining: 

“ Here is a letter ye’r father directed me to de¬ 
liver to ye after ye’d read the letter Jasper Jagger 
gave ye to-day and had said ye’d be goin’ to Labra¬ 
dor. ’Twas because of this and ye’r sayin’ nothin’ 
that I spoke to Jasper last evenin’.” 

With eager fingers Jim broke the seal. This 
letter might clear the mystery concerning the dis¬ 
appearance of the assets! Unfolding the letter 
with reverence, for it was doubtless the last com¬ 
munication he would ever receive from his father, 
Jim read: 

“ My dear Sox: 

“ It is well that you have decided to go to 
Labrador, as I have wished you would, and as I 
requested in the letter already delivered you by 
Mr. Jagger. It is definitely settled that you are 
to go, or Sandy Dumphry would not have given 
you this. It is a great disappointment to you to 
leave college, but remember that we must begin 
young in life to accept disappointments cheer¬ 
fully ; and for every disappointment there is recom¬ 
pense. 

“ You will have your way to make in the world, 
and it is better that you begin humbly, as a work¬ 
man, at the bottom. It is my wish that you profit 
by your failures, and rise by your own strength of 
brain and muscle above the many difficulties and 
discouragements that you will be certain to meet 
now and in the years to come. Then, and only 
then, will you be able to appreciate the successes 


THE DISAPPEARANCE 


29 


and the good things that I hope and trust life will 
bring you. Heretofore you have had no burdens 
to carry. Henceforth you will have to travel the 
road of life alone, and stand squarely upon your 
own feet. 

“ To take from you the temptation that might 
come to you to dispose of your home should you 
be pressed for funds, I have provided that you 
shall not sell or encumber it with a mortgage until 
you have reached the age of twenty-five. There 
is sufficient money in bank to meet the necessary 
expenses of maintaining it, and to pay the wages 
of Sandy and Margaret Dumphry, whom I wish 
you to retain. It is my hope that before you reach 
that age you will have established yourself. 

“ It is also my wish that you retain Pat Mc¬ 
Carthy as superintendent of the Labrador opera¬ 
tion. He will be your teacher. You will soon 
grasp the details of the business, and McCarthy 
will assist you. You may place absolute confi¬ 
dence in him, and for the present, at least, be 
guided by his advice. He is familiar with my 
methods and with my plans concerning the de¬ 
velopment of the property. 

“ It is to be regretted that circumstances com¬ 
pel you to leave college. Your course there in 
forestry, however, will now take a wholly practical 
turn. You will be able to apply what you have 
learned. You will not be too old three or four 
years hence to complete the course and earn your 
degree. Secured through your own unassisted 
efforts it will have a value for you that it would 
not otherwise possess. I hope you will resolve to 


30 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


resume your studies, when circumstances permit, 
and graduate. I trust that you will, in the mean¬ 
time, and on the actual field of labour, apply, so 
far as possible, what you have already learned. 

“ I am taking these precautions to guide and 
help you in the event that accident befall me. Life 
is uncertain at best, and particularly so in a far 
wilderness such as I am about to visit. 

“ Whatever happens, be brave, honest, true to 
yourself and your trusts, and put forth the best 
that is in you. I have the utmost confidence in 
you, my son. You are all I have in the world 
since Mother left us, and my one thought is of you, 
and my chief desire is for your happiness. 

“ Your loving father, 

“ James MacLean.” 

“ Dear old Dad!” said Jim, brushing a tear 
from his eye, as he folded the letter and placed it 
in his pocket. 

“ Did he tell ye anything about what happened 
to his money, laddie ? ” asked Margaret. 

“ No, not a word. But he says that McCarthy 
is to continue as superintendent. Jagger had no 
right to send that man Dawes up.” 

“When you reach the camp tell Dawes to get 
oot,” suggested Sandy. “ Say naithing to Jasper 
till ye’ve seen McCarthy.” 

“ I think I’ll do as you suggest, Sandy. I feel 
it in my bones there’s going to be trouble when I 
reach camp.” 


Ill 

THE PILOT OF THE GRAY GOOSE 


W HEN Jim, in accordance with the ar¬ 
rangement made with Jasper Jagger 
at the time of the conference, pre¬ 
sented himself at the lawyer’s office one week later 
he learned that Jagger had arranged passage for 
him to Labrador on the lumber company’s ship, the 
Gray Goose, and that the vessel was then at Mon¬ 
treal, loading cargo for the logging camps. 

“ I will advise you her sailing date in ample 
time for you to join her,” said Jagger, adding, 
“ but the more I consider the matter the more 
firmly I am convinced that you have made a mis¬ 
take in your election to go to Labrador. I would 
suggest, I would urge, that you remain in college 
and complete your education. I will advance, as 
you are aware, the necessary funds to defray your 
expenses.” 

“ Thank you, Mr. Jagger,” said Jim, with a 
note of irony. “ You are most considerate and 
kind, but I have firmly decided to go.” 

It was good news for Jim that he was to make 
the voyage direct, rather than by the roundabout 
rail route to St. John’s and thence by mail boat 
The Gray Goose was a sturdy little steamship of 
nine hundred tons burden. His father had pur¬ 
chased her at the time he established the camps 
31 


32 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


and mill in Labrador. Her mission was to carry 
supplies to the camps and to freight finished lum¬ 
ber from the mill to market. She was one of the 
logging camp assets, and Jim looked upon her, 
therefore, as his own property, though under the 
terms of the will he could exercise no control over 
her until the expiration of the trust period, two 
years hence. 

“ He’s getting pretty anxious for me to stay 
away from Labrador,” said Jim to himself as he 
walked home. “ I wonder what’s up anyhow! I’ll 
find out, I suppose, soon enough. He never would 
have given me that letter of Dad’s if Sandy hadn’t 
asked him if he’d given it to me.” 

Another week passed before Jim again heard 
from Jagger, when the lawyer called him on the 
telephone one afternoon to notify him that the 
Gray Goose was to sail from Montreal the follow¬ 
ing day. 

Jim barely had time to catch the last train, by 
which, with two intermediate changes, he could 
connect at Malone with the early train the follow¬ 
ing morning, which was due to reach Montreal 
shortly before eleven o’clock. At each changing 
point there was a long wait, the Montreal train 
was late, and when finally he reached the wharf 
where the Gray Goose was docked she was casting 
off her lines. 

Captain Hugh Dobbs, on the bridge, recognized 
Jim rushing down the wharf, and held the Gray 
Goose in her berth until Jim and his baggage were 
aboard. 

“Had a letter from Mr. Jagger last evening 


THE PILOT OF THE GRAY GOOSE 33 


saying you might be with us, but he thought it 
doubtful, and directed me not to hold the ship,” 
said Captain Dobbs, shaking Jim’s hand heartily, 
when Jim joined him on the bridge after the ves¬ 
sel had swung out from her moorings and was 
standing down the St. Lawrence. “ I did hold her 
for an hour, though, to give you time to get down 
from the train. Had given you up.” 

“ Thank you for waiting, Captain, the train was 
late,” Jim explained. “ Jagger didn’t notify me 
you were sailing until just before the last connect¬ 
ing train left Highville. I had to do some hust- 
ling.” 

“ Telegraph next time. I’d have held her a 
week for you.” The round, red, jolly face of the 
Captain beamed good-naturedly as he gave Jim’s 
hand a final hearty grasp, his rotund figure shak¬ 
ing like a bowl of jelly as he laughed. “ Mr. Jag¬ 
ger wrote to bunk you for’ard with the gang of 
lumberjacks we’re taking down to the camps, but 
I wouldn’t treat you that way, Jim. There’s an 
extra berth in my cabin, and you just make your¬ 
self to home there. The steward will fix you up.” 

“ Thank you,” and the young giant, standing a 
full head above the Captain, grinned as he added: 
“ Jagger might not approve of your favouring me 
this way, but I appreciate it. You know I’m just 
one of Jagger’s lumberjacks now.” 

“ Huh ! ” grunted the Captain. “ I guess you’re 
something more than a lumberjack on your own 
ship.” 

Jim gave a sigh of relief as he went aft in search 
of the steward. He was on his way at last! Every 


34 THE TESTING OP JIM MAC LEAN 


pulsation of the engines thrilled him. The spirit 
of adventure was in his blood. He was going out 
into the world to build a career. He instinctively 
felt that his road was not to be an easy one. He 
would be called upon to battle for his rights, and 
to uphold his father’s confidence in him. He 
would glory in a fight, if fight he must! The 
harder the struggle the greater the satisfaction in 
final success! 

Standing in groups about the deck, Jim observed 
some fifteen or twenty men who were evidently not 
members of the ship’s crew. He had no doubt 
they were the lumberjacks Captain Dobbs had 
mentioned. These, then, were some of the men 
destined to be his companions during the coming 
winter. They were the hardest, toughest looking 
specimens of humanity he had ever seen. 

“ Jagger must have scoured the slums to get that 
bunch together,” he observed to himself. “ They 
don’t look like any lumberjacks I have ever seen. 
Lumberjacks are decent, even if they are rough. 
This looks like a bunch of thugs. Good men must 
be scarce if Jagger has to hire this sort.” 

He found the steward, and was soon settled in 
the Captain’s cabin. His quarters, at least, were 
to be comfortable for the voyage. The steward 
also advised him that he was to eat aft at the offi¬ 
cers’ mess, another attention for which he was pro¬ 
foundly grateful to Captain Dobbs. Ordinarily he 
would have enjoyed the mess forward, but he had 
no relish for mixing, until he should be compelled 
to do so, with the class of men the ship carried. 

Captain Dobbs during the succeeding days 


THE PILOT OF THE GRAY GOOSE 35 


proved a congenial companion. His round, jolly, 
smiling, red face was a tonic and inspiration to 
see. Jim compared Captain Dobbs’ face to a big, 
shining, red apple with a smile on it. Captain 
Dobbs was genial with everyone, including the 
humblest member of his crew, though he could be 
sharp enough when things went wrong and neces¬ 
sity demanded; and with all his geniality he was 
a strict disciplinarian. 

“ What is there about this new superintendent; 
Dawes, I think his name is ? Took him down first 
voyage this summer. What they doing with Pat 
McCarthy?” the Captain asked Jim one day when 
they were in the cabin. 

“ I don’t know,” said Jim. “ Jagger didn’t give 
me any satisfactory reason for the change. He 
simply told me he had made it.” 

“ Well, you look out for that chap Dawes,” 
warned the Captain. 

“Why?” asked Jim. “What is there wrong 
about him ? ” 

“ You’ll know when you meet him.” The Cap¬ 
tain changed the subject abruptly. “ Something 
strange about your father’s disappearance. I don’t 
like the look of it. Glad you’re going down to the 
Labrador.” 

“What do you know about it?” asked Jim, 
eager for additional details. 

“ Not much. Went into the woods on a fishing 
and hunting trip with an Indian and a half-breed 
over a year ago. McCarthy said he was expected 
out in a week or ten days. Didn’t come. After 
six weeks, one of the Indians—a half-breed they 


36 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


call Indian Jake, a fellow I wouldn't trust myself 
with a minute—came out alone. Said your father 
sent him scouting for caribou one day, and when 
he went back to camp that evening the camp was 
gone, and so were your father and the Indian, and 
he couldn't find hide nor hair of them. No place 
for a white man cruising up in that wilderness. 
Leave it to Indians, I say. I'll stay on the sea 
where it's safe." 

“ Didn't the Indian say he tried to trail them 
and find where they went? Where is the man 
now ? " asked Jim. 

“ He never talks muph. Told his story and 
shut up," said Captain Dobbs. “ He stayed 
around the mill for a week, and then went off trap¬ 
ping. Didn't even stay to go with the searching 
party that went in to look for your father. They 
say he had plenty of money after his trip in with 
your father, and paid up a back account at the 
trading post in cash, and paid cash for his winter 
trapping outfit. Was always in debt before that 
and never had any money. Looks queer to me." 

“ Do you believe there was foul play ? Do you 
believe this half-breed had a hand in Father's dis¬ 
appearance?" asked Jim. “ That's a theory I 
had from reading McCarthy's letter, though Mc¬ 
Carthy didn't suggest it." 

“ Looks bad. That Indian Jake fellow looks as 
though he might do such a thing. Bad business 
somewhere." 

“ Hasn't anything been done about it ? Hasn't 
anybody tried to follow it down ? " 

“ Can't get natives to do anything. Even Me- 


THE PILOT OF THE GRAY GOOSE 37 


Carthy said there was no use trying to follow it 
up. Like looking for a rowboat in the Atlantic 
to try to find your father in the mountains. Just 
disappeared and lost. No evidence. It seems the 
courts don’t admit anybody’s been killed until the 
remains are found. That’s one hitch. The other 
is, there’s no court in Labrador.” 

Here was new food for thought. Jim registered 
a mental resolution to make a thorough investiga¬ 
tion upon his arrival at camp. McCarthy would 
help him. Something must be done—everything 
possible—to solve the mystery, and bring to jus¬ 
tice this fellow Indian Jake if he were found 
guilty. Then a suspicion flashed across his brain! 
Had Jagger anything to do with it? Had he en¬ 
gineered it as a part of a scheme to gain possession 
of the property? 

The Gray Goose was six days out of Montreal 
when she anchored one morning at Fort Pelican 
Post of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Intermittent 
fogs had rendered the passage slow along the east¬ 
ern coast. Ghostly icebergs looming out of the 
fog, and now and again, as the mist lifted, far 
glimpses of grim, gray, storm-scoured rocks were 
all Jim had seen of sea or land for several days. 

He went on deck with the rattle of anchor 
chains. It was scarcely full daylight. The fog 
had cleared in the night, and the morning was 
crisp and snappy. A breath of the perfume of 
spruce and balsam met his nostrils. On the nearby 
shore was a line of a half-dozen low, white build¬ 
ings, and reaching away over a hill behind the 
post buildings a dark outline of forest. 


38 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


This was his land of endeavour! In this land 
he was to prove himself worthy or unworthy of the 
confidence his dead father had placed in him. He 
stretched his arms toward the hills and the forest 
and silently vowed to put forth the best that was 
in him, and to accept whatever fell to his lot with 
courage and fortitude. 

“ We’ll have breakfast and then go ashore,” an¬ 
nounced Captain Dobbs, suddenly appearing at his 
side. “ The mill is a hundred miles up the inlet. 
Have to pick up a native here to pilot the ship. 
I’m not sure of the channel myself. No chart of 
these waters.” 

When Jim and Captain Dobbs put off in the 
jolly boat a half-hour later the sun had risen. It 
was a glorious morning. From the top of a flag 
pole, which stood midway of the buildings, the 
Hudson’s Bay Company colours waved in the 
breeze, unfurled by the factor as a token of cour¬ 
tesy and welcome to the visiting ship. The factor 
himself was on the jetty to greet them, while a 
half-dozen native trappers stood at a respectful dis¬ 
tance in the rear. 

Sturdy, bronzed men these were, and Jim was 
attracted to them at once. They were men who 
had no fear of storms or winter’s gale. They lived 
lives of constant adventure, laughing at dangers 
and obstacles and conquering them. 

Captain Dobbs introduced Jim to Mr. MacFane, 
the factor, and the three turned up the jetty to the 
factor’s office. One of a score of great Eskimo 
dogs skulking about showed his ugly fangs and 


THE PILOT OF THE GRAY GOOSE 39 


snarled as tlie men passed. The factor immedi¬ 
ately paused and called to one of the natives: 

“ Give that dog a heating, Mark! ” 

Continuing toward the office, MacFane ex¬ 
plained : 

a We can’t afford to let them do that. If I were 
to let a dog snarl at me without punishment it 
would soon get bold enough to attack with the 
whole pack at its back. They’re wolves, you know; 
domesticated wolves, with all the instincts of their 
wild and savage progenitors.” 

As they entered the office the howls of a dis¬ 
tressed dog came to their ears, indicating that 
Mark, the post servant, was doing his job well. 

“ Anybody here I can get to pilot us up the 
bay ? ” asked Captain Dobbs when they were 
seated. 

“ David and Andy Angus came in last night for 
some outfit. David can pilot you. He knows 
Eskimo Bay like a book. They live over at The 
Jug, across the bay from your mill,” suggested the 
factor. u David is a young chap, but I’ll recom¬ 
mend him.” 

“ That’s good,” said Captain Dobbs. “ Afraid 
I’d have to wait over a day to get some one in. 
I’ll take Angus if you recommend him.” 

“Will you call David Angus in?” Mr. Mac- 
Fane asked one of the clerks. 

A few moments later, in response to the call, 
David entered. He was a wiry, muscular lad of 
eighteen or thereabouts. He stood straight as an 
Indian, and Jim noticed with admiration his 
square, broad shoulders, his well poised head, and 


40 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


his naturally graceful movements. He wore a 
trapper’s short drill jacket, white moleskin trou¬ 
sers, knee-high sealskin boots or moccasins into the 
top of which his trousers were tucked with the boot 
tops drawn together below the knee and tied with 
a buckskin thong. On his head was a peakless cap, 
which he respectfully removed and held in his 
hand upon entering. His rough clothes were clean 
and neat, and his hair carefully brushed. 

“ Did you call for me, sir ? ” he asked, address¬ 
ing Mr. MacFane. 

“ Yes, David. Captain Dobbs here wishes some 
one to pilot his ship to Grampus River; would you 
like the job ? ” asked the factor. 

“ Twenty dollars for you if you don’t stick her 
in the mud,” broke in Captain Dobbs, a merry 
twinkle in his eye, “ and another twenty to pilot 
her back after we’ve discharged cargo.” 

“ I can pilot she, sir. I’ll not stick she in the 
mud,” answered David confidently. “ I knows the 
channel.” 

“ Done! ” grinned the Captain. “ It’s a bar¬ 
gain. When will you be ready ? ” 

“ Andy and I were wantin’ to get some outfit, 
sir,” said David. “ As soon as we gets un we’ll 
be ready. We’ll need to take our boat in tow and 
take the outfit aboard, sir.” 

“Very well,” agreed Captain Dobbs. “Hurry 
it up all you can. Want to get up to the mill to¬ 
night. Jim and I are going aboard now. Come 
as soon as you are ready and we’ll get started.” 

Captain Dobbs and Jim pulled back to the Gray 
Goose in the jolly boat, and an hour later David 


THE PILOT OF THE GRAY GOOSE 41 


and his younger brother Andy, a lad of sixteen, 
followed in their boat, David sculling at the stern 
with a long oar. 

No time was lost. 'Simultaneously with the 
hoisting aboard of David’s outfit, anchor was 
weighed, and immediately the Gray Goose was in 
motion, threading her way through the Narrows, 
presently to burst out into the broad waters of 
Eskimo Bay. 

“ There are the Mealy Mountains,” said Cap¬ 
tain Dobbs during the afternoon, indicating a 
range of snow-capped peaks rising to an altitude 
of thirty-five hundred feet, and bounding the 
southern shore of Eskimo Bay. “ The camps are 
at the upper end of the bay, on the lower slopes 
of the mountains. It was up into a pass through 
that range that your father went with the Indians 
when he was lost.” 

The grim white peaks immediately had a new 
and intense interest for Jim, and he gazed at them 
for a time in silence. Then he asked: 

“ Do you suppose David Angus, our pilot, knows 
the half-breed Indian Jake ? ” 

“ To be sure he does,” answered Captain Dobbs. 
“ Knows everybody in the bay. There aren’t over 
a hundred natives, big and little, living along these 
shores, and everybody knows everybody else.” 

“ I’m going to have a talk with him,” said Jim. 
“ I’m going to follow this thing down until I learn 
all there is to it. I have never yet been able to 
think of my father as really gone. He was in per¬ 
fect health. He knew the ways of the wilderness 


42 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 


like an Indian, and lie knew how to take care of 
himself.” 

“ When dear ones are taken from us, it is al¬ 
ways hard for us to realize that they are really 
gone, at least for a long time,” consoled Captain 
Dobbs. “ Time is the great healer of all sorrow, 
and as time heals we become reconciled to the fact 
that those who are taken are gone from us forever 
and are a good deal happier in the other world 
than we are here, though we’re all anxious enough 
to stay here as long as we can. Something hap¬ 
pened to your father up there in those mountains, 
and I’m afraid we’ll never even know what it was.” 

“ Yes,” said Jim, “ reason tells me that, but I’ll 
always be expecting him to step up behind me and 
to feel the slap of his big hand on my shoulder, 
and hear him ask, 6 How goes it, my boy ? ’ as he 
used to do. Anyhow, I’m going to learn what I 
can concerning his disappearance, and solve the 
mystery if it is possible to do so.” 

Jim joined David and Andy, who were stand¬ 
ing by the steersman directing his course, and after 
introducing himself, asked: 

“ Do you know the half-breed, Indian Jake? ” 

“ Aye,” answered David, “ we knows he. Andy 
and I were trappin’ with he winter before last, and 
he traps with Pop last winter.” 

“ What kind of a man is he ? ” asked Jim. 

“A fine man! We finds he honest, and he’s 
wonderful fond of doin’ fine things for those he 
likes,” eulogized David. 

“ You’ve heard, of course, what is said of him 


THE PILOT OF THE GRAY GOOSE 43 


concerning my father’s disappearance ? ” suggested 
Jim. 

“ We hears un talked about,” said David, “ but 
I’m not doubtin’ Indian Jake tells what’s true. 
He’s always speakin’ straight, whatever. He were 
never doin’ evil to Mr. MacLean, sir.” 

“ He never were, whatever ,” echoed Andy, 
ready to stand up for his friend. “ He’s knowin’ 
no more than he’s sayin’ about what were hap¬ 
penin’ to Mr. MacLean, sir.” 

“ I am glad to hear your good opinion of him,” 
said Jim. “ I’ve been told that Indian Jake had 
no money and was in debt when he went into the 
mountains with my father, and that when he re¬ 
turned he had money enough to pay his debts and 
to spare. My father always carried a considerable 
amount of money with him. Under the circum¬ 
stances, can you account for the fact that Indian 
Jake so suddenly came into possession of funds? ” 

“ I’m not knowin’, sir, where Indian Jake gets 
the money he has, but however ’twere I’m not 
doubtin’ ’twere an honest way, whatever ,” per¬ 
sisted David. “ I’m thinkin’ ’twere paid he by 
Mr. MacLean for workin’ for he, sir.” 

Jim looked upon this as a most unsatisfactory 
explanation of Indian Jake’s suddenly acquired 
wealth. It was highly improbable that his father 
had paid so high a price as several hundred dol¬ 
lars for a few days’ service of a guide, and in any 
case he would not have paid the man until the 
services were completed, and upon his return to 
the mill. Circumstantial evidence was strongly 
against Indian Jake. 


44 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


David and Andy Angus were doubtless thor¬ 
oughly honest in their defence of the half-breed. 
For some reason they believed in him. Jim had 
no doubt of their sincerity, and though he did not 
in the least agree with them, he admired them for 
their defence. He had no doubt that they, at least, 
were frank and open, and too ready to believe that 
others were the same. 

“ Those two fellows are so straight that they’re 
blind to the obvious, when it happens to be a 
friend of theirs that’s gone wrong,” was his esti¬ 
mate of David and Andy as he paced the deck. 
“ They wouldn’t for the world do a dishonest act 
themselves and they believe others are as honest. 
They are the sort that will never believe wrong 
of a friend, no matter what other people think, 
until he’s actually proven guilty. That Indian is 
guilty, and I’m going to prove it before I’ve 
finished with him.” 

It was past eleven o’clock that night when the 
Gray Goose dropped anchor at Grampus River. 
The mill and adjacent buildings, the forest behind, 
and the grim white peaks of the Mealy Mountains, 
bathed in the subdued light of a full moon, formed 
a picture of primitive, entrancing beauty and 
mystery. 

A dog howled in the distance, and immediately 
a chorus of howls came across the water to mingle 
with the rattling of anchor chains. Jim stood at 
the rail watching the shore where he was presently 
to land and begin his life work, when suddenly a 
canoe shot out from the shadows. 

u ’Tis Indian Jake! ” exclaimed David Angus, 


SCHE PILOT OF THE GRAY GOOSE 45 


who, now that his work was finished, had joined 
Jim at the rail to await Captain Dobbs. “ I knows 
Indian Jake by the stroke of his paddle, sir. ’Tis 
a shorter and quicker stroke than a white man 
makes.” 

“ Then I’ll meet him to-night? ” asked Jim. 

“ Aye, you’ll meet he to-night, sir. He’s cornin’ 
aboard.” 

With more than ordinary interest Jim watched 
the canoe, shooting like a phantom across the moon¬ 
lit waters. It held the man that he had no doubt 
was responsible for his father’s death. He was 
now to meet this man face to face, and he promised 
himself that before he was through with the fellow 
he would know what was what. 


IV 

IHDIAH JAKE, THE HALF-BREED 


J IM admitted that he could not hope or expect to 
wring a confession from Indian Jake, but he 
would have his story at first hand, and then 
trace down, to verify or refute, every detail of the 
account. Apparently nothing of this kind had 
been attempted, despite whisperings and suspicions 
against the half-breed. It was this apparent in¬ 
difference and inactivity on the part of Jagger and 
the authorities, if there were any authorities, that 
made Jim fume and boil within. And Pat Mc¬ 
Carthy had been in command here for months be¬ 
fore he had been superseded by Dawes. Why had 
McCarthy done nothing ? Why had he not put the 
half-breed under arrest? Pat McCarthy, the man 
whom his father had trusted, had seemingly been 
as indifferent as any of them. 

The canoe passed under the shadow of the ship, 
and in an incredibly short time Indian Jake, as 
silent as a ghost, appeared on deck, his moccasined 
feet touching the wood as softly as the padded 
paws of a cat. 

The full moonlight fell upon the half-breed’s 
face, and from his point of vantage Jim had an 
excellent view of it. The skin was the colour of 
copper. The face, with keen, black, restless eyes 
above a beaked nose, suggested a hawk. The 
features indicated a mixed ancestry; the pre- 


INDIAN JAKE, THE HALF-BREED 47 


dominating characteristics, however, were de¬ 
cidedly Indian, accentuated by the Indian’s coarse, 
straight black hair worn half-way to the shoulders. 
The man was tall, wiry, sinewy and graceful in 
his every movement as a cat is graceful. 

Indian Jake swept Jim with a fleeting glance, 
but in the glance the young man knew that he had 
taken in every detail from head to feet, and there 
was an uncomfortable feeling that the hawk-like 
eyes had looked him through and through, reading 
his innermost thoughts. 

Ignoring Jim’s presence, quite as though he 
were not within earshot, Indian Jake turned to 
David and Andy Angus with a pleasant smile that 
Jim observed mellowed and transformed his coun¬ 
tenance. 

“Ugh! You come from Fort Pelican on the 
ship ? ” 

“ Aye,” answered David, proudly, “ we were 
pilotin’ she from Fort Pelican. I’m wonderful 
glad to see ye, Jake.” 

“ Ugh! ” grunted the half-breed. 

“We brings our outfit up, and Andy and me’ll 
take un over to The Jug with daylight. Pop’ll be 
leavin’ for the trails in a fortnight, whatever, and 
we were goin’ early to be back with he a bit whilst 
he bides home. Will you be goin’ ahead of he, 
or bide at The Jug and go with he? ” asked David. 

“ I won’t go to the trails this winter,” said 
Indian Jake. “ Stay in bay. Maybe work around 
lumber camps. Maybe hunt deer for camps.” 

“ Why, Pop’s expectin’ you’ll be trappin’ with 
he! ” exclaimed David in astonishment. 


48 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


“ Changed my mind about trapping” explained 
Indian Jake. “ He don’t need me. Micah Dunk 
go with him or maybe you or Andy.” 

“ I’m thinkin’ to bide home and hunt Pop’s old 
trail up from The Jug, and Andy’s thinkin’ to 
drive dogs for Doctor Joe. He’s wantin’ Andy to 
drive for he.” 

“ Ugh! ” acknowledged Indian Jake. u Your 
father knows why I stay in bay and don’t go with 
him. You hunt old trail. That’s fine. Be home 
nights with Margaret and Jamie. Some bad men 
in camps this winter.” He glanced at several of 
the new lumberjacks who lingered on deck. “ Andy 
drive dogs for Doctor Joe. Doctor Joe away most 
of time doctoring sick folks. Micah Dunk hunts 
with your father. I stays at lumber camp.” 

“ Micah’s a fine hunter,” broke in Andy. 

“ Fine hunter,” echoed Indian Jake. 

“ Have you been seein’ Micah ? ” asked David. 

“ Ugh! ” answered the half-breed. “ I see him. 
He likes to go. Your father likes to have him. I 
talk to your father this morning. Tell him I may 
have to stay in bay. Ask him will he like to have 
Micah go in my place. He knows why I stay. 
He says 1 yes.’ I ask Micah will he go if I has 
to stay in bay. Micah says ‘ yes.’ Now I stay 
in bay. Micah goes.” 

“ That’s a fine way to fix un,” agreed David, 
and then turning toward Jim, who stood a dozen 
feet away and had been observing Indian Jake as 
he talked with the two boys, he introduced him. 
“ This is Mr. MacLean, Jake. He’s cornin’ on 


INDIAN JAKE, THE HALF-BREED 49 


the ship to be in the camp this winter, and he’s 
wantin’ you to tell he about what’s happenin’ to 
his father last year.” 

“Ugh!” acknowledged Indian Jake, who had 
followed David and Andy over to join Jim. 

“I’ve heard about you,” said Jim, “and I 
would like to have a conference with you.” 

“We can have a talk.” Indian Jake eyed Jim 
narrowly. “ Too late to-night. I go ashore now. 
Have a talk on shore in morning. Meet you there 
when you come.” 

“ Very well,” agreed Jim stilly. “ In the morn¬ 
ing, ashore.” 

Jim went below to his berth. There was no 
doubt in his mind that Indian Jake had been on 
the lookout for the ship, and that he had boarded 
her on a scouting expedition. The half-breed had 
certainly not expected to meet David and Andy 
Angus. He had not tarried to meet Captain 
Dobbs, and had spoken to no one but David and 
Andy Angus and himself. It must have been then 
that Indian Jake’s mission was to learn whether 
he had arrived on the ship. 

“ But why,” Jim asked himself, “was he so in¬ 
terested in my arrival ? The fellow evidently 
changed his plans for the winter, too, when he saw 
me. He had arranged to trap with Angus, and 
suddenly decided not to trap, but to send some one 
else in his stead. And he is going to work at the 
camps! That is suggestive, at least. This ar¬ 
rangement seems to have been made on a contin¬ 
gency, and it looks as though that contingency had 
been my arrival. If I hadn’t appeared he’d have 


50 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


gone off to trap with Angus for the winter. When 
he saw me he decided not to go. What does it all 
mean ? ” 

Jim lay awake in his berth for a long while 
turning the question over in his mind, and finally 
came to the conclusion that Dawes had engaged the 
half-breed to watch him. 

“ But why should Dawes have me watched \ ” 
he pondered. “ I’ve no doubt it’s some idea of 
Jagger’s. He tried to prevent my coming. He’d 
probably written Dawes that he’d try to keep me 
away from the camps by inducing me to return to 
college. But in case he failed, and I should ap¬ 
pear here Dawes was to have me watched. I can’t 
understand why, for I’ll always be under pretty 
close supervision in camp. 

“ Anyhow, he has Indian Jake on the job. I’m 
glad it’s this half-breed, for the closer he sticks 
to me the more I’ll see of him, and the more I’ll 
learn about him. I’m more certain than ever that 
this fellow was responsible for Dad’s disappear¬ 
ance, and I’m going to sift the thing to the bottom 
before I’m through with it.” 


re 

THE CAVE IN' THE MOUNTAINS 


I T was near sunrise when Jim awoke. He 
tumbled out of his berth, dressed quickly, 
and hurried on deck. It was to be an inter¬ 
esting and eventful day. He was to see McCarthy 
and learn from him the condition of affairs in 
camp. He would meet Dawes for the first time. 
And there was the conference he was to have with 
Indian Jake! That conference would start his in¬ 
vestigation of the suspicious circumstances sur¬ 
rounding his father’s disappearance, and that, at 
present, was the most important business in hand. 

Lighters from the camp were already alongside 
loading with cargo from the ship’s hold. A big 
man with a bulldog face, covered with a week’s 
growth of beard, standing amidships with Captain 
Dobbs, was overlooking the work. He wore a 
broad-brimmed soft hat, blue flannel shirt open at 
the throat, a mackinaw jacket, dirty moleskin 
trousers tucked into the tops of felt leggings, and 
lumbermen’s heavy rubber shoes. 

Jim knew instinctively that this was Dawes. 
He walked over at once to meet him. 

“ Morning, Jim,” greeted Captain Dobbs. 
u This is Mr. Dawes, the superintendent, Mr. 
MacLean.” 


51 


52 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“How’d do,” acknowledged the superintendent. 
“ Mr. Jagger wrote me you might be down, but he 
didn’t know for sure. The Captain here just gave 
me a letter from him. Said if you showed up to 
put you to work.” 

“ Yes, I’ve come to work,” acknowledged Jim. 
“ I’m expected to learn as much as I can about the 
logging and sawmill business.” 

“ You’ll learn something about the work end of 
the business, I guess. Work’s about all we’re con¬ 
cerned with here,” Dawes grinned. “ You’ll be 
with Number Three outfit. Start in swampin’. I 
reckon you can’t use an ax much, but you’ll learn.” 

“ Very well,” Jim accepted. 

“ Better take a week off to look around and get 
acquainted with the country before you go to work, 
Jim,” the Captain suggested. 

“ I would appreciate a breathing spell and time 
to get my land legs,” said Jim, turning to Dawes. 

“ All right. Take what time you want,” agreed 
Dawes, adding with an unpleasant laugh, “ I guess 
it won’t make much difference with the work if 
you ain’t on it. You society fellows ain’t likely 
to be much help in a loggin’ outfit anyhow. But 
if you ain’t workin’ I don’t want you loafin’ 
around camp. It makes the men think they can 
loaf, too, whenever they feel like it.” 

“ In view of the fact that I am the owner of the 
camp and the mill, although I am not at present 
in possession, I feel that I have some rights and 
privileges here,” Jim retorted. “When I go to 
work I think I’ll do my share.” 

“ You’re big enough,” grinned Dawes. “ Far as 


THE CAVE IN THE MOUNTAINS 53 


ownin’ the outfit is concerned, I don’t know and I 
don’t care anything about that I’m hired by Mr. 
Jagger. He’s my boss, and I’ve got to answer to 
him for what’s done here. I’ve got my orders 
from him, and those are the orders that go with 
me. That’s all I’ve got to say about it, only that 
while I’m here I’m boss and runnin’ the outfit, 
and nobody else is goin’ to butt in.” 

“ Very well, we won’t discuss the matter now/’ 
said Jim with dignity. “ I have no doubt Mr. 
Jagger has mapped out your course for you, and 
we’ll let it go at that, for the present.” 

“ Yep, that’s it,” Hawes still wore his aggravat¬ 
ing grin, “ I know my business and we’ll let it go 
at that, as you say.” 

“ Jim, it’s breakfast time. Come below and 
we’ll eat,” suggested Captain Dobbs. “ Mr. Dawes 
says he’s had his breakfast.” 

“What insolence!” exclaimed Jim as he and 
the Captain took their seats at the breakfast table. 
“ I can see storms ahead. I won’t stand for much 
of that sort of thing. He’s a tool of Jagger’s to 
put something over, and he’s going to make me as 
uncomfortable as he can.” 

“ Yes, I’m afraid you’re in for a bad time with 
that fellow, Jim,” said Captain Dobbs. “ The only 
argument he will respect is a canthook handle. 
He may be a big bluff. That kind usually are. 
But he has the power, and it is likely he’ll use it 
without mercy. Look out for him. Get along with 
him if you can. It’s to your interest to do so.” 

“I’ll try to,” agreed Jim, “but it’s going to 
be mighty hard.” 


54 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


“ I expected to be here a week discharging and 
taking on cargo, but the mill hasn’t turned much 
lumber out since Dawes came on the job, and there 
isn’t half a cargo to take out. We’ll be here per¬ 
haps three days, and while we’re here you had 
better eat and sleep on the ship, Jim.” 

“ Thank you,” said Jim gratefully. “ I’ll see 
how things are ashore. I may have to accept your 
invitation.” 

“ You’re welcome. You’d better do it too, and 
not mix up with the camp until you have to do so.” 

Directly after breakfast Jim pulled ashore with 
Captain Dobbs, who wished to “ stretch his legs 
on land.” Jim went at once to the store, where 
he found Billy Hand, the storekeeper, opening 
cases from the first consignment of goods sent 
ashore from the Gray Goose. Billy was an old 
employee of the MacLeans, and his face lighted 
when he saw Jim, whom he had known from boy¬ 
hood. 

“ Well, by gum, if it ain’t Jim MacLean,” he 
exclaimed with beaming face, hastily wiping his 
hands on a burlap bag, and grasping Jim’s hand 
in a hearty shake. “ You’re face is like a glint of 
sunshine after stormy weather.” 

“ I’m glad to see you, Billy,” Jim grinned. 
“ You look well and husky.” 

“ I’m pretty good except my liver,” Billy ad¬ 
mitted. “ I’m taking Doctor Kurem’s Liver Re¬ 
liever, and it seems to help some.” 

“Your liver?” asked Jim. “The last time I 
saw you I thought it was your kidneys, or was it 
your heart ? ” 


THE CAVE IN THE MOUNTAINS 55 


“ I don’t just remember,” said Billy. “ I 
thought once it was my heart and then my kid¬ 
neys, but I made up my mind it was my liver. 
I was takin’ heart medicine for a while, and then 
I started in on Homer’s Kidney Compound, and 
now I’ve switched to Doctor Kurem’s Liver Re¬ 
liever. I guess they all helped me some. I al¬ 
ways was delicate in health, you know.” 

“ You look it! ” laughed Jim, surveying the big, 
brawny man. “ Where’s Pat McCarthy ? ” 

“ Pat’s up at Number One camp, and he’ll be 
tickled to death to see you,” explained Billy. 
“ You know he was taken off the Supe’s job, and 
Dawes gave him the choice of gettin’ through or 
takin’ the job of boss at Number One. He’d have 
quit, but for his loyalty to you, and if it hadn’t 
been for him all the old men would have quit too. 
We got together to talk it over. McCarthy told us 
he was goin’ to stick to it to save what he could 
for you, and asked us to stand by you and him, 
and here we are on the job, every mother’s son 
of us.” 

“ McCarthy’s a brick! and so are all of you! ” 
exclaimed Jim. “ I don’t know how to thank you 
all. It was fine of you. How can I find Mc¬ 
Carthy ? I’d like to see him at once.” 

“ Number One camp is up the tote road about 
three miles. You could go with the tote team to¬ 
morrow morning, or walk up to-day. The walkin’ 
is pretty good.” 

“ I think I’ll walk. How have things been going 
around here, Billy ? ” 

“ Its been heck and the deuce to pay ever since 


56 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


Dawes hit camp. He stopped the mill with the 
skidways and boom full of logs, and started to put 
in new machinery he brought with him. They’ll 
have to get those logs out of the boom before 
freeze-up or they’ll never save ’em. If they’re 
frozen in they’ll go out with the break-up in the 
spring and be scattered all over the bay, and they 
never could pick ’em up again. I don’t know 
what it all means.” 

“ Why don’t Dawes take ’em out ? ” 

“ Ask him! Nobody else knows. Looks as 
though he wants to lose ’em.” 

“ I’ll go up to-day and have a talk with Mc¬ 
Carthy. Have you seen the half-breed they call 
Indian Jake around to-day?” 

“ He’s outside there now,” said Billy, nodding 
his head toward the rear. “ I don’t like that feller. 
He’s the last one ever saw your father alive, un¬ 
less it was One-Eared Charley, the Indian that dis¬ 
appeared with him. I ain’t sayin’ what Indian 
Jake done or what he didn’t do. I never talk 
about folks behind their backs.” 

“ What sort of a fellow was this One-Eared 
Charley?” asked Jim. “I haven’t heard much 
about him, only that he disappeared with Dad.” 

“ A peaceable, quiet feller that minded his busi¬ 
ness. They called him One-Eared because a lynx 
chawed off part of his left ear once in a fight. 
Maybe you haven’t heard about the papers ? ” 
“No, what papers?” asked Jim. 

“ Of course you haven’t heard about ’em, be¬ 
cause you just got here. Well, your father kept a 
bunch of papers in the safe here in the store, and 


THE CAVE IN THE MOUNTAINS 57 


about a week before be went off with One-Eared 
Charley and Indian Jake he took ’em out and went 
up to Camp Number Three. One-Eared Charley 
went along with him. One-Eared had been tellin’ 
him about a cave up in the mountains back of 
Number Three somewhere, where the Indians used 
to hang out in the old days before the white men 
came into the country. It was kind of a gatherin’ 
place for ’em when they were gettin’ together to 
raid the Eskimos. You know the Indians and 
Eskimos used to fight each other. There was 
plenty of Eskimos them days, though there’s none 
left in the bay now, exceptin’ a half dozen families 
in a little settlement down near Fort Pelican. 

“ One Ear was the only one around here that 
knew where the cave was, though I kind of suspect 
Indian Jake could find it if he was a mind to. 

“ Well, your father and One Ear started out 
early one mornin’ from Number Three to go see 
the cave. The cook up there said the papers were 
in the side pocket of your father’s huntin’ jacket 
when he left. It was a pretty bulky package and 
made the pocket stick out. When he and One Ear 
got back just before dark they went right into the 
kitchen, and your father had his pockets crammed 
full of pa’tridges he’d shot. He pulled the birds 
out and told the cook to fry ’em for supper. The 
papers wa’n’t there, and he didn’t have ’em with 
him or the cook would have seen ’em, which he 
didn’t. 

“ You see it wa’n’t usual for him to take papers 
into the mountains, and the cook couldn’t help 
wonderin’ why he did it, and what he did with ’em 


58 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


when he didn’t bring ’em back. Of course he left 
’em in that cave. 

“ There was some talk about it, and Dawes 
heard the talk when he got here, and he’s had men 
up there huntin’ for the cave. I don’t believe 
they found it though. He’s been down here goin’ 
through all the papers in the store, and he seems 
to be lookin’ for something special. I reckon it’s 
them papers your father took to the cave.” 

“ This is tremendously interesting and impor¬ 
tant! ” exclaimed Jim. “Do you suppose Indian 
Jake really knows where the cave is? ” 

“ I’ve a notion he could find it. Dawes has been 
chummin’ with him and got him hangin’ around 
camp. He’s up to somethin’. Maybe he’s goin’ 
to take Dawes up, when the ship is gone, to hunt 
for the cave. If it ain’t that, it’s some dirty work. 
You look out for that half-breed, Jim.” 

“ Thank you, Billy,” said Jim appreciatively. 
“ I’m pretty well able to take care of myself. I’m 
going to find out what the Indian has to say for 
himself. 'So long. I’ll be back in a little while.” 

“ Good luck to you,” said Billy, as Jim left him 
to interview Indian Jake. 


VI 

A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER 


ff ORNIN’,” greeted Indian Jake, who 

I m/1 crooked knife was shaving 

A- ^ down sticks to the proper dimensions 
for snowshoe frames. 

“ Good morning,” Jim acknowledged. 

“ How we have talk? ” asked the half-breed. 

“ Yes,” said Jim, “ I’ve come over to have a talk 
with you.” 

“Come to tent.” 

Indian Jake gathered np his sticks and led the 
way through the forest to the eastward. Neither 
spoke as they walked. Jim, in the rear, observed 
with admiration the graceful poise, and the agile, 
rapid movements of the half-breed, stepping with 
certain but silent tread, and he instinctively com¬ 
pared the man with a panther. 

They had gone perhaps three hundred yards 
when they suddenly came upon a small cotton tent 
in the lee of a thick grove of spruce trees. In front 
of, and below, the tent the wide mouth of a brook 
emptied into the bay. A canoe, turned upon its 
side, lay on the mossy bank above the water. 

“ Come in,” Indian Jake invited, holding open 
the front of the tent. “ Warm inside. Have our 
talk here.” 

Jim entered and seated himself on a thick bed 
of fragrant balsam and spruce boughs, which 
59 


GO THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


formed the floor. Indian Jake placed a handful 
of birch bark into a little sheet-iron stove which 
stood at the right of the entrance, in front, ar¬ 
ranged wood on top of the bark, and applied a 
match. The morning was keen and frosty, and the 
genial glow of warmth that at once pervaded the 
tent was pleasant. 

The fire kindled, the half-breed seated himself 
in front of the stove, produced from his jacket 
pocket a plug of black tobacco, and drawing his 
sheathknife shaved some of the tobacco into his 
left palm. Restoring the knife to its sheath, he 
returned the plug of tobacco to his pocket and 
brought forth a pipe. After rubbing the shaved 
tobacco between his palms he stuffed it into his 
pipe, selected a splinter of wood, lifted the stove 
lid and lighted the splinter at the fire, and, apply¬ 
ing the blaze to his pipe, puffed contentedly. 
Then, turning to Jim, he suggested: 

“ Now we have our talk.” 

“ What I want from you first is a full account 
of your trip into the mountains with my father— 
the trip when he was—lost.” 

“ Ugh! ” grunted Indian Jake. “ Not much to 
tell. Your father talk to One-Eared Charley about 
trip. Tell One Ear been working hard all sum¬ 
mer. No time to hunt or fish. Going away soon 
and wants a hunting trip and fish some before he 
goes. One Ear says he goes with him. Then he 
talks to me. Wants me to go with him too. I say 
yes, I go. One Ear takes his canoe. I take my 
canoe. Plenty grub and outfit. Two tents, One 
Ear’s and mine. 


A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER 


61 


“ We go up Kenamou River. Not much signs 
deer. Your father catches few fish, but too cold 
for good fishing with hook and line. Many pota- 
gans—long carries. Your father fine with tump¬ 
line. Big and strong. He carried with tumpline 
before, I can tell. He carries big pack like Indian. 
He says he has good time, and we keeps goin’ far¬ 
ther in country. He don’t want to turn hack. 
Want3 to find deer. 

“ One day we come to big lake on height of land. 
Other lakes beyond, and water runs other way 
from them toward St. Lawrence River. I cross 
over to 'St. Lawrence River once, three, four years 
ago. I know where St. Lawrence River is. 

“ Mr. MacLean has big talk with me and One 
Ear about country. Asks all about rivers and 
lakes. We tell him. One Ear been over the coun¬ 
try there many times. He knows much about it. 

“ This lake a good place for deer. He is pleased 
with it. Says we camp on this lake and hunt.” 

“ How long was that after you left here ? ” 
asked Jim. 

u Maybe ten days, maybe two weeks. We hurry 
but find slow going. Long potagans. Carry too 
much grub and outfit. Heavy packs.” 

“ Yes, and then what happened ? ” 

“ We camp by lake in evenin’. Mr. MacLean 
say 3 to me, ‘ Jake, you go early in mornin’ and 
look for deer.’ 

“ Before daylight in mornin’ I takes my rifle 
and goes. I see some fresh deer footin’, then snow 
comes. I make lean-to and put on fire and camp. 
Fine to hunt deer when there’s fresh snow. Snow 


62 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


stops in night. Not much on ground. I starts out 
and hunt. Sun comes warm and snow most gone 
by noon. I see deer, but don’t shoot. I say I 
take Mr. MacLean where deer are and he shoot. 
It is most dark when I gets back to lake. No 
camp. I look all over. Camp gone. One Ear 
and Mr. MacLean gone.” 

“ Were there any tracks in the snow?” broke 
in Jim. 

“ Snow most gone. Little patches some places. 
Snow is all gone where the camp was. No snow 
close by lake to make tracks.” 

“ And then what did you do?” asked Jim. 

“ My canoe and my tent both there. One Ear’s 
canoe and tent gone. I see where other canoe was 
put in water. I think maybe they see deer on 
other side of lake and go shoot ’em, and camp on 
other side lake. I look for smoke. No smoke 
anywhere. Too late to go on that night, and I 
camp. In morning I look some more. No smoke. 
I take canoe and paddle across lake. I finds no 
signs. Look a long time, look till dark. Lake too 
big to look everywhere. I go back to camp and 
think I’ll move camp across lake next day and look 
more. Snow comes in night, and then I know I 
can’t see signs where they camp or leave lake. 
Snow covers all signs up. Then I go hunt deer, 
and kill two. I bring in the meat to dry. Say 
I’ll wait at camp, and maybe they’ll come back 
soon. 

“ I stay two weeks. Dry meat and hunt. They 
don’t come. Then ice begins to make on lake. 
They don’t come yet. No good to wait any longer. 


A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER 


63 


I know they won’t come now. Can’t paddle canoe 
with ice on lake. I come back to bay before river 
freezes. That’s all.” 

Jim had been eyeing Indian Jake closely while 
the half-breed related his experience, and he was 
certain that while Indian Jake had spoken with 
apparent frankness some important details had 
been omitted, and persistently, as he listened, the 
question arose in his mind: “ Had the two guides, 
acting in collusion, disposed of his father, robbed 
him, and separated ? ” One-Eared Charley could 
easily have continued on down the eastern slope to 
the St. Lawrence, while Indian Jake returned to 
Eskimo Bay. It would have been difficult for 
them, had the two returned together, to have ex¬ 
plained his father’s absence satisfactorily. 

“ How did you come by all the money you 
had?” Jim asked. “I understand you had con¬ 
siderable when you got back here—enough to pay 
your debt at the Hudson’s Bay Company’s store 
and to buy your winter outfit.” 

Indian Jake peered at Jim through squinting 
eyes for a full minute before replying to this, ap¬ 
parently, unexpected question. His face looked 
more a hawk’s than ever. 

“ That’s my money. I earn him.” 

“ But how did you earn the money in so short 
a time? You did not have it, apparently, before 
you started into the country on that trip.” 

“ I earn him. That’s all,” and not another word 
of explanation could Jim wring out of Indian 
Jake. Finally he asked: 


64 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 


“ What is your theory of what became of my 
father and One-Eared Charley ? ” 

“ I don’t know. They go away. They leave 
camp and don’t come back. I don’t know where 
they go.” 

“ Are you willing to take me in to see the place 
you have described?” Jim asked finally. 

“ Ugh, I take you in.” 

“ When can we start ? ” 

“ In the morning at daylight.” 

“ Very well. We’ll go.” 

“ We go light to travel fast, and get back before 
freeze-up. I get outfit together to-day. Don’t 
take much. You sleep here in tent to-night, then 
we get early start, soon as we can see.” 

“I’ll do it,” agreed Jim, rising. “Get what¬ 
ever you need from Billy Hand at the store, and 
I’ll pay for it.” 

“ Ugh, I get him,” agreed Indian Jake. 

Jim left the half-breed and strode back along 
the trail to camp. He had not learned much that 
was new beyond minor details. There was some¬ 
thing that the half-breed was holding back, he was 
satisfied of that. He would go to the place him¬ 
self and see with his own eyes what there was to 
be seen. And while they were together on the trail 
he would examine and cross-examine Indian Jake. 
He would catch him off his guard at some time! 

“ Well, that’s arranged,” said he to himself. 
Now for a trip to Number One camp to see Mc¬ 
Carthy. Perhaps he will have some suggestions to 
make. 


VII 

A WARNING 


T HE store door stood open and Billy, un¬ 
packing a case of clothing, hailed Jim as 
he came up from Indian Jake’s tent: 

“ Did your pow-wow bring ye anything ? ” 

“ Nothing new,” answered Jim, pausing. 

“ He’s a slick cuss. I didn’t expect it would,” 
and Billy nodded knowingly. 

“ I’m going in with him to-morrow. He’s going 
to take me to the place where Dad was lost,” Jim 
announced. “ And, by the way, I wish you’d let 
him have any outfit we’ll need for the trip, and 
I’ll pay you for it. I told him to come here 
for it.” 

“ You don’t mean to tell me, Jim, you’re goin’ 
in with that feller! Just you alone! ” exclaimed 
Billy. 

“ Yes, why not? ” asked Jim. “ You see I want 
to look the ground over for myself. I won’t be 
satisfied until I’ve done that.” 

“ All I can say is that you may’s well jump 
into the bay right here and drown yourself, or 
commit suicide any other way that may seem 
pleasant and comfortable to you.” Billy shook his 
head helplessly. “ You’ll never come back, Jim. 
Drop in and say good-bye to me before you leave. 
I never expect to see you again.” Billy paused 
65 


66 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


and looked thoughtfully into space for a moment. 
“ Say, Jim, Fm goin’ with you. My liver’s pretty 
bad, but I guess I can make it. If there’s two of 
us one can keep watch all the time and that feller 
won’t have a chance to do any of his tricks. If 
you’re alone with him he’ll have a chance to knife 
you while you’re asleep.” 

“You’re a cheerful prognosticator,” Jim 
grinned. “ There’s absolutely no danger to me 
so far as he is concerned. He wouldn’t dare do 
me any harm. There’s suspicion enough attached 
to him already, and he’ll bring me back safely just 
to let you people see that there is no ground for 
the suspicion. All his interests are here, and he 
never could come back if anything happened to me. 
Don’t- you see, Billy ? I’m safe enough. And any¬ 
how I’m pretty well able to take care of myself. 
Thank you for offering to go as my protector, but 
you stay on your job in the store. If you leave 
here for the trip Dawes’ll fire you. That won’t 
do. I want you here to take care of the store. I 
know it will never be looted with you on the job.” 

“ I’ll get my outfit ready to go with you,” per¬ 
sisted Billy. “ You won’t be safe with that feller 
alone. He won’t lose much by gettin’ out of here.” 

“Don’t you do it!” Jim objected positively. 
ee Don’t you mention it to Dawes either! I know 
it’s for my sake, but I don’t want any one to go 
with us. I’ll do better alone.” 

u Well, don’t you ever throw it up to me if you 
get killed by that half-breed! ” Billy’s voice re¬ 
flected injured feelings. “ I’ve warned you, and 
I’ll go in a minute if you’ll let me.” 


A WARNING 


67 


" If I get killed up there I’ll never once mention 
it,” Jim laughed. “ And I’ll promise my ghost 
will never haunt you, Billy. Where does the tote 
road start in?” 

u You can’t miss it. Starts in just west of the 
mill. Foller the river up,” directed Billy, adding 
to himself, as Jim thanked him and strode away, 
“ Headstrong, and likes to take chances just like 
his father. I wouldn’t go into those mountains 
alone with Indian Jake, not for the hull camp and 
the mill thrown in and a million dollars to boot! ” 

Jim had no difficulty in finding the tote road. 
It was the only road in the whole wilderness. This 
was the road over which supplies were hauled to 
Camps Numbers One, Two and Three. It was 
little else than a trail that had been cleared of trees 
and brush to sufficient width to permit the passage 
of the freighting team. It was corduroyed over 
marshy places, but otherwise no attempt had been 
made to smooth or level it. During the short sum¬ 
mer it was seldom used. In winter the hard-frozen 
ground would be covered by snow to a depth of 
several feet, and constant use would keep the road¬ 
way packed hard and solid and smooth enough for 
the heavy bob sleigh. 

On the right of the road the Grampus River, a 
narrow, turbulent stream, poured down from the 
mountains to empty into the sheltered cove where 
the Gray Goose lay at anchor. On the shores of 
this cove stood the sawmill, store, a cook and bunk- 
house and two or three cabins which housed native 
mill workers and their families. 

The air was sweet with the odour of balsam and 


68 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


spruce. Here and there a tamarack, the foliage 
turned golden yellow by September frosts, or the 
snowy trunk of a white birch, gave brilliant con¬ 
trast to the dark green spruce and fir. 

A half dozen spruce grouse were startled from 
the road by Jim’s approach, and with great rush 
of wing took refuge in a tree to look down at the 
intruder wonderingly. Impudent 'Canada jays 
scolded him in their harsh notes, and the “ chick- 
a-dee-dee ” of the brown-capped Labrador chicka¬ 
dee was constantly in his ears. A three-toed Arc¬ 
tic woodpecker was working industriously on a 
dead tree, and as he passed an open space he 
startled a mixed flock of snowflakes and Lapland 
longspurs. In the distance he heard the chatter of 
a red squirrel. He had always looked upon red 
squirrels as a pest. But now, on this lonesome 
trail in this strange land he hailed the chatter of 
the squirrel as the voice of an old, familiar friend. 
He paused to listen, and as he stood a lynx stepped 
out into the road a dozen yards ahead of him. The 
great cat, with its tufted ears cocked forward, 
paused boldly to look at him, then noiselessly, on 
padded feet, passed from view. 

“ Slinks around like Indian Jake,” observed 
Jim, striding forward. 

Presently he heard the strokes of axes, and a 
moment later came upon a clearing with a long, 
low log building in the center, and above it an¬ 
other, but smaller, log house. The latter he 
recognized as the camp stable. Smoke was issuing 
from a pipe protruding above the roof at one end 


A WARNING 


69 


of the former, and this he knew was the cook and 
bunk house. 

Jim entered, and found himself in the combined 
kitchen and mess room of a logging camp, a parti¬ 
tion separating it from the bunk or sleeping com¬ 
partment. A tall, cadaverous man was stirring 
with his right hand the contents of a big pan. The 
man turned a sorrowful gaze toward Jim, and with 
his left hand removed a pipe from between his 
teeth, spat deliberately upon the floor, and greeted: 

“ How do, stranger ? ” 

“How are you?” said Jim. “Is this Camp 
Humber One? ” 

“ You’ve propounded correct the fust time,” 
nodded the cook, still stirring his dough industri¬ 
ously. “ This is Number One outfit, and I’m Tim 
Davis, the cook. Did you lose an outfit some- 
wheres ? ” he asked seriously. 

“ Not exactly,” grinned Jim, “ though I’m look¬ 
ing for this one and for Pat McCarthy. Do 
you happen to know where I’ll find him ? I’m Jim 
MacLean.” 

“ Be you the son of our old boss ? I’m tickled 
to death to see you. I’d shake, but I’m all 
gummed up.” He lifted his dripping hand from 
the mixture and gazed at it mournfully. “ Pat’ll 
be tickled more’n I am. He’s been hopin’ you’d 
show up this fall. You just wait till I get this 
puddin’ in a bag and over to boil, and I’ll lead you 
to where McCarthy is at.” 

“ Very well,” said Jim, “ I’ll wait.” 

The cook drew his hand from the dough mix¬ 
ture, wiped it on his trouser leg, and began search- 


70 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


ing among an indiscriminate pile of cloths. Ap¬ 
parently unsuccessful in his quest, he reached for 
a hand towel that was hanging upon a peg over a 
wash basin. He held the towel up for inspection. 
It gave evidence of having been used to some ex¬ 
tent since it had last been in the laundry. 

“ I guess it’ll do,” he remarked, and spreading 
it on the table, and dumping the mixture into it 
from the pan, he drew the edges of the towel to¬ 
gether and tied them securely with a string, thus 
converting it into a pudding bag. “ The boys have 
been teasin’ me to make ’em a boiled puddin’ and 
I’m makin’ it for ’em to-day as a little treat,” he 
said, dropping the towel and its contents into a 
kettle of boiling water that steamed on the stove. 
“ Come along now, and we’ll find McCarthy.” 

“ Do you make such treats for them often ? ” 
asked Jim with a broad grin. 

“ I do now and again. Kind of intermittin’,” 
said Tim, turning his mournful eyes upon Jim. 
“ I have to fix up good things for ’em to keep ’em 
continuous in appreciatin’ me. A cook in a loggin’ 
camp ain’t like to be over happy unless he gives 
the men good grub. He can’t do it by fits and 
starts. It’s got to be continuous like. They like 
this duff and I give it to ’em every Sunday regular, 
and sometimes between times, like I’m doin’ 
to-day.” 

The cook slipped a jacket over his rolled-up 
sleeves, donned a nondescript cap and led the way 
out, while Jim pondered, as he followed, on the 
way of camp cooks, and mentally decided that he 
would not care for pudding that day, at least. 


A WARNING 


71 


A little distance above tbe camp they suddenly 
came upon McCarthy directing a gang of swamp¬ 
ers. He was a typical man of the lumber woods, 
big and muscular, rough and reckless in appear¬ 
ance. He had the head, chest and fists of a fighter, 
and the bearing of a man born to lead. Bulldog 
courage and determination were the dominant 
characteristics of his features. Jim as a boy had 
been a pet of McCarthy, and on his part he had 
held the big Irishman in a degree of veneration. 
McCarthy was one of his heroes, a man of action 
and deeds. 

McCarthy’s face broke into a broad smile as he 
beheld Jim. 

“ Well, if it ain’t Jim MacLean! ” he exclaimed, 
grasping Jim’s hand in his own big, horny palm. 
“ When did yez come, me lad ? And it’s me that’s 
glad to see yez! Sure it do be good for sore eyes 
to see yez, Jim! ” 

“ The Gray Goose anchored at midnight,” said 
Jim, grinning at the cordial reception. “ I had a 
talk with Indian Jake, and then came right up 
to see you. How are you, Pat ? ” 

“ Me body’s well and hearty and able to eat what 
Tim puts before me, but me mind sure do be 
throubled at the way things be goin’. Hid yez see 
Dawes ? ” 

“ Yes, I saw him this morning. I’m to work at 
Number Three, but I’m going into the mountains 
first for a trip with Indian Jake to see the place 
where Dad’s camp was pitched when the half-breed 
claims he disappeared.” 

“ Goin’ into the mountains with Indian Jake, 


72 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


be yez ? By the saints above, yez has nerve! But 
I always said yez was the thrue son of James Mac- 
Lean, and I was lookin’ for yez to do just that. 
Afther what’s happened most lads would be afraid 
to be makin’ a thrip like that with a man o’ his 
reputation. But let me tell yez, Indian Jake’s all 
right and he’ll niver harm a hair of your head. 
Whin are yez leavin’ ? ” 

“ To-morrow morning early. I can’t see that 
I’m running any particular danger with Indian 
Jake. There wouldn’t be any object for him to 
harm me. I haven’t a great deal of money with 
me, and what I have I’ll leave at the store in 
Billy’s care for safe keeping. I’ll be safe enough.” 

“ Yez be well able to take care of yezself, Jim.” 
McCarthy looked his big companion over admir¬ 
ingly. “ I’ve no fear of that, b’y. Come on over 
to the cook house now and we’ll have a bit of a talk 
before the men come in to dinner.” 

McCarthy and Jim followed Tim down to the 
cook house, and the two seated themselves at the 
end farthest from the stove where Tim was again 
busy with his duties, assisted by a cookee, a young 
man of twenty or thereabouts, who was placing 
enamelled dishes on the table preparatory to 
dinner. 

“ They’re all right if they do be hear in’ what 
we say,” assured McCarthy. “ They’re old min 
I hired and brought here meself, but with us at 
this end they’ll not be hearin’ much.” Proceeding 
to fill and light his pipe, he asked, “ Now what’s 
been happenin’ to yez, Jim?” 

Jim related briefly his experiences with Jagger, 



“THAT JAGGER IS TRY IN ’ TO DO YEZ DIRT, ME B *Y, EXCLAIMED 

McCarthy. 





























I 




/ 






f 




I 





A WARNING 


73 


his meeting with Dawes and his interview with 
Indian Jake, while McCarthy puffed at his pipe 
and interjected comments. 

“ That Jagger is thryin’ to do yez dirt, me 
b’y!” exclaimed McCarthy, when Jim had fin¬ 
ished. “ He’s a miserable skunk. He was afther 
thryin’ to keep yez in college so yez wouldn’t know 
what was takin’ place here. He’s a robber, and 
he’s makin’ his plans to rob yez of this timber 
operation. 

“ Yez father disappeared a year ago, and whin 
a man disappears in this wilderness that’s the ind 
of him, and it’s no use lookin’ for him. He’s gone 
and yez may as well take it at that. Jagger had 
nothin’ to do with Mr. MacLean’s disappearin’, 
but he’s thryin’ to make profit by it now. 

“ He sinds down Dawes, and if that man knows 
annything about loggin’ and sawmill business he’s 
not usin’ the brains God gave him. If he do be 
usin’ thim it’s in tryin’ to make the operation a 
failure. I was handlin’ fair wurrukin’ crews on 
thim camps and had men enough to keep the mill 
goin’ on a good profit-makin’ basis. 

“ James MacLean knew his business, and he 
thrusted me, even if it is meself as says it. He 
hired me on a conthract to hold for two more years. 
That’s why Jagger didn’t fire me. Jagger gave 
me the option to quit, but I promised yez father 
I’d see the thing through, and by all the saints I 
will, and me min’ll stick by me, ivery blissed wan 
of thim. 

“ Dawes made me a crew boss whin he comes to 
take me job as superintindent, but I’m keepin’ me 


74 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


eyes on things. I’m itchin’ to beat that man Dawes 
up and take back the operation. I’ve been waitin’ 
for yez to come, lad, and say the wurrud, and I 
give warnin’ now I’ll not be sthandin’ the like of 
jhim bossin’ me for long. 

“ Dawes shut down the mill with the skidways 
piled with logs, and the boom full, and sent in a 
lot of new machinery that we didn’t need to buy 
till we could buy it out of profits later on. He’s 
plannin’ under orders from Jagger to stop income 
from lumber whilst expinses go on. They do be 
plannin’ to eat up the thrust fund yez be tellin’ 
me about in that Monthreal bank, and run the 
operation in debt so it’ll have to be sold. He’s ex¬ 
pectin’ to fix up the sale so he’ll be buyin’ it for a 
song, and rob yez of it, me lad. I see through his 
dirthy schemes, and I’m tellin’ yez. 

“ Dawes brings with him a gang of useless men 
whin he comes. Niver wan of thim iver used an 
ax before, unless it was to split somebody’s head. 
About half of me crew here in Number One is 
made up of thim, and it’s the same at Number 
Two and Number Three. With thim that just 
came in on the last ship, there’ll be about three of 
these no-good lads to ivery two of our old min. 
It’s dirthy wurruk, Jim, they do be aft.her doin’. 
With two to three against us, they do be countin’ 
on a safe balance with thim in a fight, if war starts 
between us.” 

“ What can we do to save the property ? ” asked 
Jim in some consternation at the well-nigh hope¬ 
less picture McCarthy had painted. 

“ Kick thim out and take hould of it ourselves.” 


A WARNING 


75 


McCarthy brought his big fist down on the table 
with a thud. 

“ If we do that,” Jim objected, “ the wages and 
supplies will stop. Jagger has the upper hand. 
He has possession of the funds, and the courts at 
home with him.” 

“ Kick thim out! ” repeated McCarthy. “ I’ll 
niver be able to hould me temper through the win¬ 
ter. Til be breakin’ Dawes’ head some day. If I 
iver get afther him I’m thinkin’ there’ll be a case 
of murther here.” 

“ I hope you won’t have to do it,” said Jim. 
“ Perhaps we can persuade him to play the game 
straight, and work for the interests of the business 
instead of against them.” 

“ Niver!” explained McCarthy. “ His inter¬ 
ests are in ruining the business. He’s as crooked 
as the sthripes on a barber’s pole. See here now, 
Jim.” McCarthy spoke earnestly in a confidential 
undertone, his voice charged with emotion. “ I’ve 
been waitin’ for yez to come. Here yez be, and 
now I’m waitin’ for orthers. I do be lookin’ to 
you as me boss, and I’ll be afther doin’ what yez 
tells me to do. If yez do be wantin’ Dawes to 
stick on to the super’s job where Jagger puts him 
and ruin the business, I’ll stay where I be as boss 
at Humber One, or wheriver I’m put. If yez 
says for me to go back to me rightful job as super- 
intindent, I’ll be afther makin’ Dawes and his 
gang of alley toughs admit I’m superintindent, or 
I’ll break the heads of ivery blissed wan of thim. 
Me old min’ll stand by me. It doesn’t mather if 
Dawes do be havin’ three min to our two, we can 


76 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


do it, lad. Be thinkin’ it over whilst yez be in the 
mountains with the half-breed.” 

“ Thank you, Pat,” acknowledged Jim, “ but 
that would start a war, and I’m afraid that before 
it ended the property would be destroyed. In 
fact, you know, I have no legal authority. I’m to 
be just a greenhorn lumberjack working for wages 
with no privileges.” 

“ But yez father do be sayin’ differint in that 
letter Sandy Humphry gives yez,” objected Pat. 

“ That was my first thought, too, but that’s just 
a letter Dad wrote me,” explained Jim. “ It gives 
me no legal authority. This camp is run under 
a trust created by Dad’s will, and Jagger, as ex¬ 
ecutor of the will, is trustee. He has all legal 
authority, and he is the only person that can draw 
money from the trust fund to meet expenses. I 
have no more to say about it, until I become of 
age, than you have, and we would have no stand¬ 
ing in court.” 

“ And whin’ that time comes there’ll be no prop¬ 
erty to be legal about,” argued McCarthy, feel¬ 
ingly. “ ’Twas only intinded he’d handle the 
hioney and pay it over as we’d be needin’ it to run 
the business, and to put all money cornin’ from the 
business into the fund for yezownself and to pay 
the cost of runnin’ the property. The loggin’ and 
sawmill was niver intinded for the likes of Jagger 
to run, hirin’ and firin’ min. That’s me own job. 
That’s why yez father put me on conthract till the 
time yez would be of age and take it over yezself. 
Can’t yez see, b’y ? ” 

“ I’m afraid the courts wouldn’t look at it that 


A WARNING 


77 


way,” insisted Jim. “ Jagger has the courts be¬ 
hind him and he knows it better than anyone else.” 

“ The court do be queer things sometimes,” ob¬ 
served McCarthy hopelessly. “ But they’d niver 
stand for his wastin’ the property.” 

“ I’ll think about it while I’m in the mountains, 
and we’ll have another talk when I get back and 
decide what we’d better do,” said Jim. “Do you 
know anything about Dad leaving some papers, 
presumably in a cave ? ” 

“ That’s what I hears. Your father wint up 
wan day from Number Three, takin’ a package of 
papers, One-Eared Charley goin’ with him, and 
cornin’ back in the evenin’ without thim. Whin 
Dawes comes here he hears about it, and he’s had 
!min lookin’ for that cave all summer. They do be 
sayin’ that Indian Jake could be findin’ the cave 
if he wants to, and Dawes has hired him to hang 
around the camp this winther, and maybe he 
thinks he’ll get Indian Jake to show him where it 
is, but it’s my opinion Indian Jake’ll niver do it. 
That half-breed don’t tell all he knows.” 

“ Then there’s something to it, or Dawes thinks 
there is ? ” 

“Yes, there is that. He took the papers and 
came back without thim. There’s a cave some- 
wheres, and I do be thinkin’ the papers are hid 
in it.” 

“ I’ve heard so many things to-day, Pat, my 
head is full and my hands seem to be tied,” said 
Jim. “ I’ll have time while I’m away with Indian 
Jake to think matters over and decide what to do. 
Perhaps I’ll get some information from Indian 


78 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


Jake, and I’ll see yon again as soon as I get back.” 

u Yez’ll be gettin’ niver a wurrud from that 
ihalf-breed. He’s tould yez iverything he knows, 
and he’s tould yez the truth, or he’s the biggest 
rascal I iver met.” McCarthy arose. “ Here come 
the min to dinner, and there’ll be some of the 
Hawes gang amongst ’em that’ll be spyin’ on us. 
Just be thinkin’ over what I’m tellin’ yez, Jim. 
'Come up to the other ind of the table and sit with 
me.” 

Distributed at intervals the length of the table 
were great dishes of baked pork and beans, boiled 
corned beef, boiled potatoes, bread and doughnuts, 
and pitchers of steaming coffee. And Jim did jus¬ 
tice to all while he listened to the general badinage 
and arguments and rough jokes among the lum¬ 
berjacks. 

“ Where’s that puddin’ you promised ? ” some¬ 
one called to Tim Davis, the cook, who, Jim ob¬ 
served, they addressed as “ Happy.” 

“ Puddin’! ” exclaimed Tim, as though in great 
astonishment, and maintaining his habitually sor¬ 
rowful expression. “ You fellers’ll drive me to 
my grave with pesterin’ me for delicate eatin’. 
Next thing I know you’ll want lobster a la New¬ 
burgh and I’ll be so mortified because I can’t pro¬ 
duce it I’ll not be able to look you pore starvin’ 
men in the face.” 

“ Puddin’! Puddin’! ” went up the call around 
the table. 

“I’ve got the puddin’ all right,” announced 
Happy, with much solemnity, proceeding to serve 
down one side of the table while Buck Taggs, the 


A WARNING 


79 


cookee, served the other side. “ One slice for a 
man and no hoggin’,” he protested as a lumberjack 
attempted to acquire two slices for his personal use. 

“ No harm meant, Happy,” said the man, grin¬ 
ning. “ They kinder stuck together.” 

Jim had seen the pudding bag and he discreetly 
declined a helping, insisting, when he was urged, 
that he had eaten so much of everything else he 
was sure pudding in addition would not agree with 
his digestion. 

“ Now, me lad, think over what I’ve been tellin’ 
yez,” urged McCarthy, when Jim was leaving di¬ 
rectly after dinner to return to the ship. “ ’Tis a 
man’s duty to fight for what’s rightfully his when 
dirthy thieves are afther cheatin’ him. ’Tis a 
pathriotic duty to stop thievin’.” 

“ All right, Pat,” Jim laughed as he shook his 
friend’s hand. “ We’ll see how things work out.” 


viii 

ADIEU TO CIVILIZATION 


J IM had quite enough to occupy his thoughts 
as he retraced his steps down the tote road 
to the mill. Billy’s suggestion in the store 
that morning that Dawes was mismanaging the 
property, followed by McCarthy’s charge that the 
mismanagement was a deliberate attempt to wreck 
the logging and mill operation, came to him as a 
decided shock. 

From the day when Jagger had delivered him 
that letter in which his father had asked that he 
enter the camps as a lumberjack and work his way 
to a knowledge of the business, and, contrary to 
his father’s expressed wish, Jagger had attempted 
to dissuade him from entering the camps, Jim had 
felt instinctively that the lawyer’s object in taking 
this course was to conceal something from him. In 
the light of what McCarthy had told him, J agger’s 
reason for wishing to keep him out of Labrador 
would seem transparent enough. 

But was not McCarthy prejudiced? He had 
been superseded by Dawes as superintendent, and 
quite naturally harboured resentment against his 
successor. While Jim agreed that McCarthy ap¬ 
parently had excellent reasons for his deductions, 
this suggestion of personal prejudice and bias in¬ 
truded itself. It would be quite possible to mis- 
80 


ADIEU TO CIVILIZATION 


81 


construe the new superintendent’s methods and 
motives and construct a plausible argument against 
them. 

This reasoning was suggested by the thought, 
ever present in his mind, that it was his father 
who had placed Jagger in control of the business. 
His father was a practical lumberman and also a 
keen business man. He was a good judge of 
human nature and careful in the selection of the 
men that he placed in confidential positions. He 
must have had excellent reasons for trusting the 
lawyer and implicit confidence in the man. 

These considerations led Jim to ask himself 
what grounds he had, after all, to suspect Jagger’s 
motives. The increased number of men sent into 
the camps would reasonably suggest an increased 
output and larger income from the property. The 
character of the men, however, that Jim had seen 
on the ship, and McCarthy’s report of those that 
Jagger had previously sent, was not reassuring. 

It might well have been that McCarthy, jealous 
of his administration of the camps, had declined, 
in his bulldog manner, to work an increased force. 
McCarthy was old-fashioned in his methods, and 
perhaps he had not been willing to accept those 
that were newer and up to date. The shutting 
down of the mill was presumably to remodel it for 
the introduction of newer and more modern ma¬ 
chinery. 

Before Jim had reached the end of the tote road 
at the mill he had concluded that he might well 
have been over-suspicious and resentful of Jagger. 

“ When I get back from this trip with Indian 


82 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


Jake,” he decided, “ I’ll go into Number Three 
and work as Dad wished. I’ll tell McCarthy to 
keep his hands oil for the present, at least, and I’ll 
keep my eyes open. It is possible I’ve been all 
wrong, and that McCarthy’s all wrong. Dad most 
always knew what he was about. I’ll not inter¬ 
fere with any of his plans unless I find I have to. 
Dad’s will placed Jagger in legal charge of the 
property and the funds to keep the business going, 
and he can stop the whole operation by holding up 
money and supplies. Whether he is straight or 
not he has the upper hand, and I’ll keep my hands 
off unless something turns up that proves to me 
beyond doubt McCarthy is right.” 

He looked in at the mill for a moment where 
a gang of men were busy remodelling and setting 
up machinery, and then turned down to the store. 
Billy was still unpacking, marking and arranging 
goods that had arrived on the Gray Goose. 

“ Hello, Jim,” he greeted. “ I didn’t expect 
you back so soon. Did you find McCarthy ? ” 

u Yes, I saw him. I’ll have to get my outfit 
ashore this afternoon, and I came right back after 
dinner,” Jim explained. 

u How did you find things ? ” asked Billy, reach¬ 
ing for a bottle labelled “ Dr. Kurem’s Liver Re¬ 
liever,” and taking a gulp of the contents. “ I 
have to keep takin’ medicine for my liver all the 
time.” 

“ Everything seemed to be going well enough. 
Of course I hadn’t time to look around, and I 
wouldn’t have learned much if I had. I’m a com- 


ADIEU TO CIVILIZATION 


83 


plete greenhorn. Did Indian Jake come for our 
outfit for the trip ? ” 

“ Yes, he was here and got some things—grub 
mostly. But you’d better not make that trip alone 
Vith him, Jim. Let me go along with you.” 

“ I’ll be all right. I think you’re looking for a 
chance to get out of the store, and I’d enjoy your 
company, but your liver is in such bad shape,” 
Jim grinned, “ I’d be afraid to have you along. 
You’d better stay here on your job or Dawes will 
fire you.” 

“ I’m talkin’ about what I know,” Billy bristled. 
u I don’t want to take the trip, but you’re takin’ 
a big chance goin’ alone with that half-breed. You 
need somebody to look after you. It wouldn’t be 
any easy job lookin’ after you either, but I’m 
willin’ to tackle it. Back home there’s a law 
against folks committin’ suicide, and they fine ’em 
or lock ’em up or somethin’, and I kinder feel like 
I ought to keep you from breakin’ the law.” 

“ I’ll be all right,” Jim grinned. “ I’m not tak¬ 
ing the risk you think I am, Billy. I appreciate 
your motive just the same. Now I’d like to get 
aboard the ship. Where can I get a boat ? ” 

“ Come along, and I’ll put you aboard.” 

Jim followed him, and Billy requisitioned a 
fiat-bottomed rowboat drawn up on the shore, and 
'fifteen minutes later Jim climbed up the ladder to 
the deck of the Gray Goose, while Billy pulled back 
to resume his duties in the store. 

It was after tea aboard ship, and the moon was 
up, when Jim said good-bye to Captain Dobbs, and 
a ship’s boat manned by two sailors rowed him 


84 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


*and his belongings ashore. The two men helped 
him carry his trunk and camp bag to the store. 
Here, with Billy’s assistance and advice, he se¬ 
lected such small personal equipment as he would 
require on the trail—a warm blanket, a change of 
woolen underclothing, a half-dozen pairs of woolen 
socks, an extra pair of shoepacks, toilet articles and 
ammunition for his rifle. These were packed in a 
waterproof duffle bag, with which he had provided 
himself. 

“ That coat you’re wear in’ won’t be much use 
to you in this country,” said Billy, bringing forth 
a hooded garment of moleskin cloth. “ Take this 
adikey and leave your coat in your trunk here. 
It’s a sort of shirt with a hood on it that Eskimos 
and other natives wear, and it beats a coat all 
holler for keepin’ a feller warm. I had a native 
woman make this one for McCarthy. I guess it’ll 
fit you.” 

“ Thank you,” said Jim. “ You know the game 
and I’m a greenhorn. Anything else wrong ? ” 

“ Shed the hat.” Billy went behind the counter 
and produced a round, peakless cloth cap with ear 
and neck protector, and a pair of wool-lined buck¬ 
skin mittens. “ Put the cap on and cache your hat 
and gloves in your trunk. They don’t fit this coun¬ 
try, and folks don’t wear anything here for show. 
You’ll be gettin’ into nippy weather before you get 
back—if you ever do come back, and I don’t ex¬ 
pect you will.” 

“ You’re a cheerful prophet,” laughed Jim. 
Ki Thank you for fixing me up.” 

Billy looked Jim over from head to foot, taking 


ADIEU TO CIVILIZATION 


85 


in details—shoepacks, moleskin trousers, woolen 
outer skirt, cap and belt, with sbeatkknife. 

“ You’ll do,” said be. “ It’ll be a bit tougb on 
you at first, but you’ll soon harden up to it. Don’t 
burry away now. Sit down and tell me tbe news 
from borne.” 

It was nearly two hours later when Jim shoul¬ 
dered bis pack, took bis rifle in bis band and said 
good-bye to Billy. He paused for a moment be¬ 
fore tbe store to look out over tbe placid waters 
of tbe bay, which glistened in tbe light of tbe full 
moon like a sheet of polished silver. Tbe Gray 
Goose , at anchor in tbe offing, rose in silhouette 
above tbe sparkling waters. She was bis last con¬ 
necting link with civilization and tbe outer world 
at least for many months. He felt a sudden sense 
of loneliness with tbe thought that be was now an 
exile completely cut off from bis lifelong friends 
and companions. McCarthy and Billy and some 
others of bis father’s old employees were staunch 
and loyal friends, to be sure, but they were differ¬ 
ent from tbe friends at home and in college. They 
were rough and ready and generous, but in spite 
of their big hearts they bad no appreciation of tbe 
finer things of life that bad meant so much to him, 
and bad little in common with him aside from tbe 
work that be was soon to be engaged in. 

“ Good for me, I suppose,” be finally said, turn¬ 
ing bis back upon tbe bay and tbe Gray Goose, and 
striding down tbe trail toward Indian Jake’s tent. 

That old life is all behind me, and I may as well 
adapt myself to tbe new, and the sooner I do it 
tbe happier I’ll be. Life is made up of changes, 


86 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


and a fellow must learn to accept them as they 
come if he ever expects to make anything of him¬ 
self. Perhaps some day I may go back to college 
and finish my course, but it will never be the same 
with the fellows that I knew there all gone.” 

The night was crisp and frosty, and the air filled 
with sweet odours of the forest. Jim took deep 
breaths as he walked, and all too soon Indian 
Jake’s little tent appeared before him. Smoke was 
rising from the stovepipe, which protruded through 
the top, and a flicker of candle-light told him that 
the half-breed was waiting. 

Parting the canvas in front, he discovered In¬ 
dian Jake squatted before the stove, puffing stolidly 
at his pipe. 

“ Good evening,” Jim greeted. 

“ Ugh! ” the half-breed grunted, making way 
for Jim to pass in with his bag. “ You sleep back. 
I sleep this side by stove. I get up early and put 
on fire to boil kettle.” 

“ All right,” said Jim, proceeding to unpack his 
bag and spread his blankets on the fresh and fra¬ 
grant bed of spruce and balsam boughs which In¬ 
dian Jake had prepared. 

“ Fine night,” he remarked, as he rolled, pres¬ 
ently, into his blankets. 

“ Ugh, fine night,” grunted Indian Jake, star¬ 
ing straight before him and evidently not wishing 
to talk. 

For a half-hour Jim lay awake enjoying the cozy 
snugness of the tent. A fire crackled in the stove. 
A stick driven into the ground, and the upper end 
split to form a vise, held the nearly burnt-out end 


ADIEU TO CIVILIZATION 


87 


'of a sputtering candle. By its dim, flickering light 
Jim studied the figure and profile of his compan¬ 
ion crouching before the stove and silently smok¬ 
ing. The bronzed face with its beaked nose had 
a sinister and forbidding look. Jim felt a sudden 
sense of apprehension. 

“ That man/’ he said to himself, “ is capable of 
anything. I’ll have to keep on guard every 
minute. But Fm safe enough for the present.” 

And turning over he was soon lost in the uncon¬ 
sciousness of dreamless sleep. 


IX 

TOLLING ON THE RIVER TRAIL 


W HEN Jim opened his eyes a fresh 
candle, standing upright in the end of 
the split stick, softly illumined the in¬ 
terior of the tent. A frying pan, sizzling on the 
stove, fflled the air with the appetizing odour of 
frying bacon. Mingled with this was the aroma 
of coffee, which doubtless had its origin in a tin 
pail sitting on the ground and close to the stove 
where it would remain hot. Indian Jake, puffing 
his pipe, was crouching before the stove, turning 
the bacon in the frying pan with the point of his 
sheathknife. 

Jim's sleep had been unbroken and dreamless. 
His brain was clear, and he felt marvelously care¬ 
free, and happier than in many weeks. Prelimi¬ 
naries were past, and action and work were begun. 
The best antidote in the world for restlessness and 
unhappiness is activity and work. He became con¬ 
scious immediately of a consuming appetite crying 
for attention and satisfaction. 

“ Good morning,” said he, sitting up and throw¬ 
ing back the blankets. “ I was sleeping so soundly 
that I didn't hear you around. How long have 
you been up ? ” 

“ Mornin',” answered Indian Jake cheerfully, 
without turning his eyes from the bacon which he 
88 


TOILING ON THE RIVER TRAIL 89 


was manipulating. “ Not up long. You sleep 
sound. Sleep is good for man on trail.” 

“ Slept like a log, and I feel ready for any¬ 
thing,” declared Jim, hurrying into his clothes. 
“ I’ll be ready in a jiffy.” 

Stars were still shining. The air was crisp and 
snappy, and the moss-covered ground was white 
with hoar frost. He bathed hands and face in the 
cold waters of the brook, and when he returned to 
the tent felt like one treading on air. 

“ We go early,” announced Indian Jake, as he 
placed the pan of bacon between them, and poured 
coffee from the tin pail into a new enameled cup 
and passed the cup to Jim. “ Goin’ to have long, 
hard trail, and snow comes soon. Days gettin’ 
short now. Travel all time it’s daylight.” 

“ I feel fine and fit for it,” said Jim, lifting 
some bacon with his sheathknife from the pan and 
transferring it to a small enameled plate, which 
Indian Jake had placed on the ground before him, 
and helping himself to bread and butter. “ It 
seems to me I never was so hungry in my life! ” 

“ Good to be hungry,” observed Indian Jake 
agreeably. 

“ I hope you have a good supply of bacon on 
hand for the trip,” suggested Jim. “ Bacon is al¬ 
ways good, but out here it’s simply great! ” 

“ Some bacon. Plenty fat pork, no lean in it,” 
said Indian Jake. “ When we get on trail fat 
pork is better. We don’t take much coffee. Coffee 
too heavy. Plenty tea. Have to put more coffee 
in kettle than we do tea. Little tea goes good 
ways. Little coffee don’t last long. One pound 


90 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


tea lasts us four weeks. One pound coffee lasts us 
four days. We just take little coffee because I 
think maybe you like it. Little surprise for you. 
Myself, I don’t care. Like tea just same as 
coffee.” 

“ Thank you. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. 
I seldom drink tea, but I’m fond of coffee, though 
I have no doubt I’ll learn to like tea pretty well 
on the trail,” said Jim appreciatively. “ I’ve 
often wondered why tea instead of coffee is always 
carried on a long trail where it is necessary to go 
light. Now I understand.” 

“ When we get on trail you find tea very good.” 
Indian Jake sopped his bread in the bacon grease 
remaining in the pan. “ Put your bread in it like 
this,” he suggested. “ Grease very good to eat. 
Better than butter on trail. We don’t take much 
butter. Don’t want him much on trail. Plenty 
pork grease is good.” 

“ Thank you, but it’s a little too greasy for me,” 
Jim declined with a grin. 

“ Bimeby you’ll like him. Marmalade ? ” In¬ 
dian Jake drew forth a small jar of marmalade 
from a bag, and offered it to Jim. 

“ That’s fine!” Jim accepted, helping himself 
liberally. “ Thank you, Jake.” 

“ I bring two little jars. He helps you get used 
to trail. I think maybe you like him. Nice sur¬ 
prise. We don’t take much marmalade on trail. 
He’s too heavy on potagan.” 

It was quite natural that Jim should ask him¬ 
self the meaning of these little preliminary atten¬ 
tions on the part of the half-breed. The man must 


TOILING ON THE RIVER TRAIL 91 


certainly have been aware that he was under sus¬ 
picion. Was it his object to disarm Jim and quiet 
his suspicions ? It was quite probable. The 
beaked nose, the keen black, small eyes that saw 
everything, the soft, cat-like tread, the easy, grace¬ 
ful movements that were never wasted, constantly 
reminded the young man, now of the swooping 
hawk, now of the panther crouching and ready to 
spring upon its victim or stealthily stalking its 
prey. 

Before he had seen Indian Jake, Jim had con¬ 
victed him of having destroyed and robbed his 
father. The half-breed’s personal appearance and 
characteristics had only served to strengthen this 
judgment of conviction. Nevertheless he had not, 
he was fully aware, sufficient evidence upon which 
to base a charge or prove the man guilty before a 
court of law. This consideration led him to de¬ 
cide that it was policy, for the present at least, 
to accept the man’s attentions quite as though there 
was no doubt in his mind of Indian Jake’s honesty 
and sincerity. This was the game he would play 
until the time for direct accusation should arrive. 

The last stars were fading when they broke 
camp. Silently the canoe was launched, and 
loaded with their equipment, for the long journey 
into the deep wilderness. It was a journey that 
was to try Jim’s grit and fortitude to the utmost. 

“ You take bow,” said Indian Jake, holding the 
stern of the canoe steady while Jim crept forward 
to his position. 

Indian Jake gave the canoe a gentle push, as 
he stepped, light as a feather, into the stern. They 


92 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


dipped their paddles, and the little vessel shot out 
into the stream. As they passed from the mouth 
of the brook into the broader waters of the bay, 
a flock of wild geese honked overhead. Indian 
Jake pointed to them. 

“ Geese coming south. Stop here for two, maybe 
three weeks to feed in meshes. Winter comes soon 
when geese show up.” 

“ I wish we might get some of them,” suggested 
Jim. 

“ Maybe we do in the country,” promised Indian 
Jake. 

A little way up the shore they entered the broad 
mouth of the Kenamou River. Presently Indian 
Jake pointed to some white, feathery foam floating 
down to meet them, with the remark: 

“ Rapids soon now.” 

Ten minutes later they reached them, and just 
below the swift water made a landing. Indian 
Jake produced two tumplines, and proceeded to 
tie up two packs, with the tumplines adjusted for 
carrying them. One of the packs was a stu¬ 
pendously large and heavy one, the other much 
smaller and lighter. 

“ You carry light pack now. Make him heavy 
bimeby. Have to get used to him,” he announced. 

He assisted in mounting the lighter pack and 
settling it into a comfortable position on Jim’s 
back. There were no shoulder straps, and its only 
support was a broad band of leather across the 
forehead. 

“ If you slip twist your head one side and pack 
falls off. Then you don’t get hurt,” Indian Jake 


TOILING ON THE RIVER TRAIL 93 


advised, as lie turned to the heavy pack, and with 
the ease of the experienced voyageur swung it to 
his hack. Then to Jim’s amazement he stooped 
and lifted a fifty-pound hag of flour, raised it over 
his head and dropped it upon the pack where it 
would rest across the nape of his neck. Then he 
set forward, his rifle in his right hand, leading the 
way upward through spruce brush and tangle. 

Jim started ofl bravely enough, hut presently it 
seemed to him that his neck would break with the 
pull of the strap from the forehead. Only Indian 
Jake, trudging stolidly ahead with three times the 
weight, kept him going. 

“ I’ll stick to it as long as he does,” Jim mut¬ 
tered. “ He’s a good deal smaller and lighter than 
I am. If he can do it, I can.” 

At length Indian Jake halted, and putting down 
his pack turned to relieve Jim of his lighter, 
though what seemed to him then, crushing load. 

“ Does he ride easy ? ” asked the half-breed. 

“ Well, as easy as I can expect it to, I suppose,” 
answered Jim, with a stretch of his neck, as he 
seated himself upon a rock. 

“ You find him heavy to-day and to-morrow 
maybe. Then he gets easier. Take little rest 
here.” 

Jim was thankful for the brief respite. In five 
minutes Indian Jake arose, assisted Jim to mount 
his pack, resumed his own great load and silently 
trudged on with no other halt until, at the end of 
a mile, the packs were dropped on the river bank 
at the head of the rapid. 


94 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 


“ I go now and get canoe. You wait. We track 
awhile from here.” 

“ Can’t I help you bring the canoe up ? ” asked 
Jim. 

“ No, I bring him alone. You wait. Get rested 
some. Plenty hard work every day till we reach 
height of land.” 

The tireless half-breed slipped away through the 
brush to reappear a half hour later with the canoe 
turned over his head and balanced upon his 
shoulders. 

Without delay the canoe was floated in the water 
and reloaded. When this was done, Indian Jake 
attached an end of a rope to its forward thwart, 
with a half hitch around its upturned prow. He 
then selected a stiff sapling pole, cut and trimmed 
it and lashed one end of the pole to the forward 
thwart of the canoe. 

“ You take other end of pole,” he directed. “ I 
take rope and pull canoe up river. You hold pole 
and steer canoe. We have to walk in water some.” 

There was another portage where the water was 
too swift for tracking, as Indian Jake called haul¬ 
ing the canoe with the rope, then another short 
carry and it was midday. 

“ Now we boil kettle,” announced the half-breed 
when they lay down their packs at the end of the 
last carry. 

It was a welcome announcement to Jim. For 
nearly four hours he had been floundering over 
slippery boulders in icy water often to his knees, 
sometimes nearly to his hips, or forcing his way 


TOILING ON THE RIVER TRAIL 95 


through brush with a pack on his back. He sat 
down upon his pack and watched Indian Jake. 

In a moment the half-breed had a fire blazing— 
too small a fire Jim thought. Then he cut a stiff 
pole, sharpened the butt with his ax, forced the 
sharpened end into the soft ground with the pole 
in a slanting position over the fire, and filling the 
kettle with water from the river hung it upon the 
pole in a position that brought it directly over the 
blaze. 

Bringing forth a piece of fat salt pork from one 
of the bags, he drew his sheathknife, cut several 
thick slices of the pork and proceeded to fry it in 
the pan over the coals. Already the kettle was 
boiling, and removing it from the fire he threw 
into it a generous portion of tea. Then he placed 
a loaf of bread on a stone where either could reach 
it and cut from it as he wished. 

“ Grub,” announced Indian Jake laconically. 

Jim seated himself and proceeded to eat with a 
keen appetite and relish. The fat pork, not cooked 
enough to suggest browning, the coarse bread and 
tea were satisfying. Neither spoke until Indian 
Jake had sopped up the last bit of grease from the 
frying pan with a piece of bread. Then, wiping 
his mouth with the back of his hand, he asked: 

u You feel much tired ? ” 

“ A little tired,” Jim admitted, “ but this rest 
is setting me right again. I was pretty hungry. 
Now I’ve eaten I feel fresh and ready for work.” 

u Ugh, good to eat.” 

Shaving tobacco from a plug, the half-breed 
filled his pipe, transferred a red coal from the fire 


96 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


to the bowl of the pipe, puffed industriously until 
a volume of smoke issued from the pipe bowl, 
flipped the coal back into the fire, and settled him¬ 
self for a brief season of profound enjoyment. 

“ You goin’ to make good packer,” he presently 
remarked. “ Start off fine for first time you ever 
pack. Hard work first day. Second day stiff and 
sore. Neck very stiff to-night from tumpline. 
Few days all the stiff is gone. Then you find pack¬ 
ing easy. Carry big load then. Big as me maybe, 
bimeby.” 

“ I hope I shall work into it all right,” said 
Jim. “ It is hard, though, in the beginning.” 

“ Ugh. Make you good and tough for lumber 
woods when you get back. Lumber woods won’t 
be hard for you then. You find him easier work 
than packing.” 

Once in the afternoon when they were on a long 
portage, four spruce grouse arose noisily in front 
of Indian Jake, who was leading, and alighted in 
a tree. He lay down his pack deliberately, with 
the remark: 

“ Maybe pa’tridge for supper.” 

Jim put down his own load, thankful for the 
respite. Indian Jake cut a straight, slender pole, 
trimmed it with his jackknife, and drawing from 
his pocket a piece of stout twine tied it to the tip 
of the pole. On the other end of the twine he 
formed a slipnoose. 

With the noose spread open in a circle, he lifted 
the pole gently, dropped the noose over the head 
of a grouse and touched the back of the bird with 
the tip of the pole. It flew from its perch and the 


TOILING ON THE RIVER TRAIL 97 


noose tightened around its neck. Indian Jake 
drew it in, wrung the bird’s neck, and proceeded 
to capture the three remaining grouse in the same 
manner. 

“ Indian way,” he grinned as he plucked the 
feathers from his game. “ Don’t waste ammuni¬ 
tion on spruce pa’tridges. Don’t have to. He’s a 
fool bird. Pa’tridge for supper to-night, dinner 
to-morrow.” 

It was after sun-set when Indian Jake announced 
that they would camp. Jim was sure he had never 
been so weary in his life. He was wet to his waist, 
and glad of the prospect of a warm fire and bed. 
But they had made a good day’s travel—better, 
Indian Jake said, than he had hoped the first day 
—and there was satisfaction in this. 

“ Maybe you put up tent,” suggested Indian 
Jake. “ I put on fire and cook supper. Outside 
fire to-night. Cook quicker.” 

“All right,” agreed Jim. “I’m hungry as a 
bear.” 

While Jim pitched the tent, Indian Jake lighted 
a fire, put over a kettle of water, and dressed two 
of the grouse, cutting them into sections and 
dropped the sections into the kettle of boiling 
water, following them with some slices of pork. 

This done, he dipped some flour into a pan, 
added a little salt and some baking powder, and 
with water mixed a stiff biscuit dough. He now 
sprinkled some flour into the frying pan, and cut¬ 
ting some dough from the mass with his sheath- 
knife, moulded it into a cake to fit into the pan 
and about a half-inch thick. Raking some hot 


98 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


coals a little distance from the fire with a stick, he 
placed the frying pan containing the dough over 
the coals, inclining it at an angle of about sixty 
degrees, in such position that the top of the cake 
would receive the direct heat of the fire and the 
bottom of the pan that of the coals that he had 
raked out. A stick under the handle braced the 
pan and held it in place. 

He now filled the tea pail with water and sus¬ 
pended it over the fire as he had done at midday. 

“ Hot bread,” he announced with a grin, as Jim, 
who had completed the setting of the tent, joined 
him at the fire. 

“That’s bully!” exclaimed Jim. 

“Stand by fire now. Dry clothes,” suggested 
Indian Jake. 

Jim obeyed willingly, while he watched with in¬ 
terest the preparation of the meal. He was blessed 
at all times with an ample appetite. Now he was 
ravenous. 

In ten minutes the lower half of the upper crust 
of the loaf, which had risen to three times its or¬ 
iginal thickness, took on a delicate brown. Indian 
Jake removed the pan, slipped the loaf around so 
that the browned half would be above, and replaced 
it. Presently the whole top was browned to his 
satisfaction. Lifting the frying pan from its posi¬ 
tion, he turned the top of the loaf into the palm 
of his left hand, and then slipped the loaf back 
into the pan with the bottom up and again returned 
it to its place before the fire. 

Now, cutting some of the unused dough in the 
mixing pan into pieces an inch square he dropped 


TOILING ON THE RIVER TRAIL 99 


them into the kettle of boiling grouse, quickly cov¬ 
ering the kettle. The water in the tea pail was 
boiling industriously. He lifted it off, placed it 
near the fire where it would simmer, and threw 
into it two generous handfuls of coffee. 

“ Supper most ready,” he announced to Jim. 
u You hungry for him ? ” 

“ Hungry!” Jim sniffed the aroma of coffee, 
grouse and hot bread. “ I'm famished! I never 
was so hungry in my life! ” 

“ Trail makes for hunger.” Indian Jake 
grinned. “ We have fine supper.” 

Youth recuperates quickly, and but for lame 
neck muscles and joints Jim would have felt quite 
rested when he had eaten. He enjoyed his meal 
to the utmost, and declared he had never eaten a 
banquet so delicious and satisfactory—two cups of 
rich broth from the kettle, a whole grouse, two 
thick slices of boiled fat pork, hot bread and coffee 
followed by another hot loaf right from the pan, 
which Indian Jake baked as they ate, with marma¬ 
lade and more coffee. 

The camp fire, its size increased after the meal 
was cooked, was ample recompense for all the hard 
work of the day, as were the camp fires to be in the 
evenings that followed. 

While they were still eating, weird shafts of 
light sprang up in the northern heavens, quickly 
extending from east to west and reaching the 
zenith. Presently the whole northern hemisphere 
of the heavens was aglow. Like mighty search¬ 
lights, constantly changing colour—brilliant white, 
saffron yellow to deep orange, red to purple—they 


100 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


moved back and forth across the sky. It was the 
most wonderful display of the aurora Jim had ever 
witnessed, and nowhere in the North are there dis¬ 
plays so brilliant as in Labrador. For a long while 
he sat and watched, with awe and wonder, the 
northern lights. 

Indian Jake took advantage of the illumination 
to break boughs and lay a fragrant bed in the tent. 
When Jim offered to assist he declined: 

“ Bimeby when you get used to packing. Best 
by fire and dry clothes. I don’t mind him.” 

Presently the moon arose. Indian Jake, who 
had returned to the fire and had been smoking his 
pipe in silence and contentment, arose. 

“ Time to turn in,” he suggested. “ Hard day 
to-morrow.” 

And Jim, his clothing dried now, followed to 
the tent. 


X 

THE LAKE OF TRAGEDY 


O NWARD they toiled day after day toward 
the top of the divide, where the big lake 
lay, and beyond which they would find 
the water running to the southward. Every day 
was much like every other day—tracking, portag¬ 
ing, now and again a little paddling as a relief to 
the steady and terrible grind of toil. Each night 
was much like every other night—pitching camp 
in the gathering twilight, cooking and eating the 
evening meal, and the blessed hour or two of re¬ 
laxation, and enjoyment, of the cheerful camp fixe 
before sleep. 

The evening camp fire was always ample recom¬ 
pense for the hours of daylight toil. Here the 
day’s hard work passed into a misty recollection 
of experiences half forgotten—ethereal and unreal 
as the experiences of a dream. College, home, the 
places and people that he had known seemed to 
Jim to belong to another world and to have been 
connected with some pre-existence through which 
he had passed and could but faintly recall. He had 
to accept all that on faith. 

In the beginning Jim was appalled by the 
silence. There was no hum or chirp of insect, no 
croak of frog, no sound of living thing. Silence 
reigned as absolute as the silence of the tomb, save 
101 


102 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


when, perchance, a great northern loon would 
startle the night with its weird, uncanny laugh, or 
there was the honk of wild geese in their south¬ 
ward flight, or, on one or two occasions, the distant 
howl in the night of prowling wolves. On each 
occasion when the wolves were heard, Indian Jake 
remarked: 

“ Wolves follow caribou. No caribou, no wolves. 
No wolves, no caribou. We knock some caribou 
over bimeby. Fresh meat go fine when we camp 
on lake at height of land.” 

As Indian Jake predicted, Jim’s muscles soon 
hardened to the task of the trail. ILe could carry 
a man’s pack now, and swing it upon his hack with 
some ease, though he could not carry so heavy a 
pack as the half-breed, who had learned the trick 
in childhood. He soon became hardened to the 
cold water of the river. He awoke now with In¬ 
dian Jake’s first movement in the morning, and 
w T ould go out with him to assist in preparing break¬ 
fast, and, though hoar frost lay thick upon the 
ground, seldom troubled to dress his feet until the 
fire was blazing and the kettle over, preferring to 
do the preliminary morning chores barefooted. 

Jim was quick to learn the art of cooking before 
the open fire, and he was soon able to lay a bed of 
boughs quite as well as Indian Jake. In fact, he 
was rapidly becoming accustomed to the wilder¬ 
ness and its rugged life. It has been said that a 
white man will turn from the refinements of civili¬ 
zation and accept the nomadic, primitive life of 
the Indian as readily as a duck, long confined to 
land, will accept water as its element when it is 


THE LAKE OF TRAGEDY 


103 


shown water. Give man a wholesome taste of the 
open places, and he will accept them as his native 
element. It is a going back to nature, the call of 
the blood of primordial ancestors, coursing through 
every man’s veins. 

There were days of snow and rain, but the voy- 
ageurs never permitted storms to interfere with 
their progress. Whether it stormed or not they 
were, in any case, wet from morning until night 
with wading in the river or through marshes. 
That was on incident of the trail. On stormy or 
windy nights they used Indian Jake’s little sheet- 
iron stove in the tent. It lacked the romance of 
the open fire, but when the wind howled through 
the forest, or rain or snow beat down upon the 
tent, it gave their flimsy shelter an atmosphere of 
warm coziness and snug protection, and it per¬ 
mitted them to dry their wet garments and eat in 
comfort. 

Indian Jake was a good hunter, and without ap¬ 
parent effort or loss of time he managed to keep 
them supplied with fresh meat and fish—porcu¬ 
pines, ducks, geese or grouse, and once a toothsome 
stew of muskrat. Occasionally a small gill net, 
which he carried in his outfit, was set in the river 
of an evening, and the following morning it was 
certain to produce more whitefish and trout than 
they could use. 

The half-breed proved a congenial traveling com¬ 
panion. While he had now and again days of 
silence when he spoke only in monosyllables, he 
never lost his temper; and no matter what difficul¬ 
ties confronted them, or how hard the labour, he 


104 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


never complained. With him it was a matter of 
ordinary experiences, and all in a day’s work. In 
spite of his preconceived prejudice against the 
man, Jim was beginning to like him. 

But the fact remained that Indian Jake, pre¬ 
viously without funds, had appeared at the post, 
after the expedition when Jim’s father disap¬ 
peared, well supplied with money. That was some¬ 
thing that had to be explained, and until it was 
explained Jim could neither accept the man’s 
friendly advances nor trust him. Indian Jake had 
given no satisfactory explanation. Jim had 
broached the subject on two or three occasions as 
they sat by their evening camp fires, with always 
the same brief and incomplete statement, followed 
by Indian Jake’s silence. The money was paid him 
for work. That was all he would say about it. 
Reference to the matter was invariably succeeded 
by a day of brooding, during which time, though 
cheerful enough, he answered questions in as few 
words as possible and volunteered no conversation. 

Had it not been for this unexplained circum¬ 
stance, Jim would almost have been willing to dis¬ 
regard his suspicions and accept Indian Jake’s ac¬ 
count of what had happened. Men of the wilder¬ 
ness, eating, sleeping, working together, sharing 
the same hardships, the same enjoyments, the same 
tasks, and sitting night after night at the same 
camp fire, are invariably drawn together in a bond 
of brotherhood. Indian Jake never neglected con¬ 
sideration of Jim’s comfort, even at the expense, 
sometimes, of considerable self-denial, and he 
never, even under the most trying conditions, com- 


THE LAKE OF TRAGEDY 


105 


plained. Jim recognized this, but there was al¬ 
ways the one barrier between them that failed con¬ 
fidence and friendship. 

It was the evening of the twentieth day after 
their departure from Eskimo Bay that suddenly a 
broad lake spread out before Jim’s gaze as he threw 
down his heavy pack at the end of a particularly 
hard portage. Indian Jake had given no hint of 
the proximity of the lake. As he lay down his 
own pack, he extended his arm toward the water, 
and said: 

“ Here he is. The last potagan. Made him a 
surprise for you. Here your father make his last 
camp before him and One-Eared Charley go away 
and leave me.” 

Jim stood speechless for a little, gazing out 
over the heaving waters of the lake to its distant 
shore. It was a rugged, rockbound lake. On every 
side, beyond the grim boulders of its shore, lay the 
dark forest of spruce, with naked hills, rising like 
stern sentinels, high above the tree tops. Here his 
father had last been seen alive! Here, in this 
bleak solitude, he had passed forever from all 
human knowledge! 

Jim bent his head in awesome reverence. He 
felt himself standing upon sacred ground. Kow 
was to begin his search for any possible signs that 
might unveil the mystery. Whether the tragedy 
was to be solved or not, he would soon know. At 
any rate he resolved to leave no stone unturned. 

“ Where was my father’s tent pitched ? ” he 
finally asked, turning to Indian Jake. 

“ Here,” and Indian Jake pointed to a space 


106 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


covered with withered boughs that had once served 
as a bed, and not far away the charred coals where 
a camp fire had once burned. “ There,” and he 
pointed to another but smaller bed of withered 
boughs, “ is my camp when they go away and 
leave me.” 

Jim made a cursory survey of the surroundings, 
but closing darkness required that he postpone a 
more thorough investigation until the following 
morning, and while Indian Jake cooked the even¬ 
ing meal he pitched the tent and laid the bed. 
Then the two sat down to eat in silence boiled 
ducks, hot bread and tea. Coffee and marmalade 
were already memories. 

When they had finished and washed the few 
dishes that served them, Jim settled himself by 
the camp fire, half reclining against a duffle bag, 
occupied in thoughts of his father, who had sat here 
before a similar fire a year before. Indian Jake 
busied himself cleaning his rifle. This done, he 
lay the rifle by his side, filled his pipe, lighted it 
with a red coal from the fire, and settled himself 
a little way to the left of Jim. Neither spoke and 
neither moved, save once when the half-breed re¬ 
filled and relighted his pipe and replenished the 
fire. 

There was no moon now, and outside the circle 
of light cast by the fire the spruce forest was en¬ 
gulfed in black, impenetrable darkness. There was 
no sound but the rhythmic lap, lap of waves upon 
the boulder-strewn shore of the lake, and the crack¬ 
ling of the fire. 

For an hour they had sat thus, when suddenly 


THE LAKE OP TRAGEDY 


107 


Indian Jake removed his pipe from his lips and 
listened intently. Turning his head and body 
slowly he peered into the blackness to the right 
and directly behind Jim. 

Then, cautiously, noiselessly, as a cat stalking 
its game, with almost imperceptible movement, his 
right hand stole down until it touched his rifle, 
which lay at his side. And so silently and cau¬ 
tiously did he draw and cock the piece and aim it 
that Jim, less than ten feet distant, was unaware 
of the movement until there came a blinding flash 
and crash of discharge. 


XI 

u CONFESS OK CLEAR YOURSELF! ” 


J IM sprang to his feet and almost into the fire, 
startled for an instant into speechlessness. 
Gaining his voice in a moment, he nearly 
shouted at Indian Jake: 

“ What! What! Are you trying to kill me ? ” 
“ I show you,” said Indian Jake, quietly, lay¬ 
ing down his rifle and rising to his feet. “ Come 
with me. I show you what I shoot.” 

“ Pardon me,” Jim’s self-possession regained 
and ashamed of himself for having been betrayed 
into voicing an expression of distrust. “ I—guess 
I was half asleep,” he added lamely. 

He followed Indian Jake to the edge of the dark 
forest, directly beyond the fire’s circle of radiance. 
A dozen paces from the fire the half-breed pointed 
to a long gray object lying prone among the trees. 
He touched the thing with his toe. The beast was 
dead and limp. Assured of this, he reached down, 
and seizing it by a leg dragged to the fireside the 
carcass of a great Labrador wolf. 

“ How could you see well enough to shoot it out 
there in the dark?” questioned Jim, excitedly, as 
he viewed the big beast. 

“ He stays in dark, but he looks at us by fire,” 
explained Indian Jake. “ The light of fire shines 
on his eyes like on two glass balls. They look like 
108 


“ CONFESS OR CLEAR YOURSELF!” 109 


two burning coals from fire. I know they are the 
eyes of a wolf, and I shoot. They make good mark 
to shoot at.” 

“ How did you know the wolf was there ? ” 
asked Jim in wonderment. “ I didn’t hear a 
sound. I didn’t even hear or see you pick up your 
rifle.” 

“ Three wolves follow us all day,” explained In¬ 
dian Jake. “ Wolves are big cowards. Keep off 
where I can’t get good shot, so I wait. Wolf, he’s 
afraid. He never comes close to hurt a man in day 
time unless he’s in big pack. He’s always big 
coward. Three wolves do us no hurt, so I say 
nothing and wait. I know he comes to our fire 
to look and try to steal when we go to sleep. So 
I listen and keep looking. I bring my rifle to fire 
and clean him. Then I have him ready when wolf 
comes. You keep still and I keep still. I hear 
one step. I look and bimeby I see the eyes. I 
reach slow for my rifle. I do not want to scare 
him. So slowly I reach for my rifle you do not 
see. Then I shoot. One wolf is dead. Other 
two run away and do not come back again. They 
good and scared.” 

“ I thought you were sitting there smoking till 
you fired and scared me stiff. You fired right past 
my back, and I thought you were after me! ” 

“ Ugh! ” Indian Jake grunted. “ You think I 
hurt your father. You’re afraid I hurt you. I 
know. I always know what you think.” 

“ Haven’t I reason to think so ? ” asked Jim in 
some heat. 

“ My tongue speaks straight to you. Ho need 


110 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


why you be afraid of me. I would not hurt you. 
Fm your father’s friend. I like him. He’s fine 
on the potagan. He’s a good friend to me. He 
trusts me always. He knows men to trust. Be¬ 
cause I like him I come with you. I finds you 
good on potagan too. I’ll be your friend too, 
maybe, sometime when you know me to trust me. 
You don’t trust me now. You’re kind of man I 
like. You’re good man to travel with. You don’t 
know yet. Some time you do. Then you say I 
don’t hurt your father. I come on trail to help you 
because I like your fither.” 

“ I’m glad you said that, Jake. It’s more than 
you’ve ever smd about this thing before to me, or 
any one else I believe.” Jim’s voice was intense 
and serious u My heart tells me you are all right. 
My head tells me you know more about this thing, 
and what became of my father, than you have ever 
told me or any one else. I feel that you could 
explain my father’s disappearance if you would. 
But you won’t, or at least you haven’t. It is 
natural that I should connect you with it. You 
have left nothing for me to do but accuse you of 
the deed. 

“ Either you did away with him and One-Eared 
Charley, or you and Ono-Eared Charley did it t> 
gether and then One-Eared Charley left the coun¬ 
try to escape, or One-Eared Charley did it when 
you were hunting and ran away before you re¬ 
turned, taking Ihe outfit with him. But the fact 
that you had all that money when you got back 
raises a strong inference that amounts to little 
short of proof that you did away with my father 


“CONFESS OR CLEAR YOURSELF!” 111 


and robbed him. If this is not true, speak the 
truth and clear yourself. Clear yourself or con¬ 
vict yourself her© on the ground where the deed 
was done! ” 

“ I have said the truth. My tongue always 
speaks straight.” Indian Jake, with a sphinx-like 
countenance looked Jim straight in the eye. 
“ Some day you will know. I say no more. I 
work for you and help you, but I say no more. 
Maybe we find something to-morrow, or day after. 
I help look. My tongue speaks straight.” 

Indian Jake ceased to speak, as though he were 
finished, and then, as an afterthought, continued: 

“ I know the way you feel. When my father 
dies I feel bad. When your father goes away and 
never comes back you feel bad. You want to know 
why he don’t come back. If you go on trail with 
my father and come back alone and say you don’t 
know where he is, I think you do know but won’t 
speak. I think you know where he goes. You 
don’t say anything more because you don’t know. 
I think you do know. 

“ Same way when I go with your father and I 
come back alone and he don’t come back. I know 
you think I do him harm. I want to show you 
all I can. I help you all I can. I make this trip 
to show you. My tongue speaks straight. My 
heart is warm for your father. I do the best I 
can for you. I want to please your father. I 
want him to say, ‘ Jake did best he could for my 
son.’ ” 

“ Jake, if you could explain how you got that 
money I’d believe you.” 


112 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 


“ I get him for work. I am paid that money 
for work I do. I do the work for your father, and 
he pays me.” 

With an air of finality Indian Jake turned from 
Jim and proceeded to skin the wolf. 

For several minutes Jim watched the deft move¬ 
ments of the half-breed. The man made no false 
motion. Every cleft of the knife, every turn, 
counted. He was an expert through long practice, 
and his work a lesson in efficiency through train¬ 
ing. 

Jim was torn with doubts. If the possession of 
that money could be explained satisfactorily! In¬ 
dian Jake was hiding something from him. He 
had no doubt that the man could tell much more 
than he had told. If he found evidence to support 
his theory of the man’s guilt, he would be pitiless 
and ruthless in his prosecution. If his suspicions, 
on the contrary, proved to be groundless, he would 
apologize for them and offer every possible recom¬ 
pense to atone for them. 

But for Indian Jake’s unexplained possession 
of the money, he would, with what he had already 
seen, feel quite satisfied that One-Eared Charley 
were alone responsible for what had happened. 
But he had only begun his investigations, and 
something important might develop. He resolved 
to ignore the charge he had made against Indian 
Jake and treat the man as though he were innocent 
and maintain that attitude until there should be 
found sufficient evidence to convict. 

“ How much would that fellow weigh ? ” he 
presently asked. 


“CONFESS OR CLEAR YOURSELF! ” 113 


“ Hundred fifteen, maybe twenty, pounds,” an¬ 
swered Indian Jake, quite as though nothing had 
happened between them. “ Wolf grow big in this 
country.” 

“ It’s surely a monster,” agreed Jim. “ Do you 
think the others will be back ? ” 

“ No, they go.” 

“ How did you know they were following us ? I 
didn’t see them or hear them.” 

“ I see signs when I go back for canoe on first 
potagan this morning. I see wolf once. No 
chance to shoot. I know they follow all day. Cari¬ 
bou in country here. Caribou brings wolf.” 

“ Maybe we can get some caribou. I’d like 
some caribou meat. I never ate any.” 

“ Ugh. Maybe we knock one over. Caribou 
meat good. Best kind of meat.” 

The wolf was skinned. Indian Jake had re¬ 
moved the pelt whole, and he held it up for in¬ 
spection, with the flesh side out. It was nearly 
as long as himself. 

“Now I stretch him to dry,” he said. 

Throwing some fuel on the fire to increase the 
blaze and area of light, his eye fell upon a tall, 
slender birch sapling. With his ax he cut it down 
and trimmed it. He now filled the cooking kettle 
with water from the lake, and placed the kettle 
over the fire to boil. These preparations com¬ 
pleted, he sat down by the fire, and with his 
crooked knife proceeded to shave down the stick 
and shape it to his needs. 

The kettle was boiling when he had finished, and 
holding the center of the trimmed sapling over the 


114 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


steam for several minutes, he began with much 
care to bend and manipulate it. Presently the 
sapling was bent into a bow, with the bend narrow 
enough to be forced into the head of the pelt. A 
little below the bend a cross stick was fitted to 
hold it in place, half way between this and the 
ends of the sapling another, and a third joined the 
two ends, all lashed into place with buckskin 
thongs. The pelt, with fleshy side turned out and 
fur side in, was now forced over the stretching 
frame, until it was drawn almost as taut as a 
drumhead. Small punctures were made in the 
pelt along the edge at the opening at the hind legs. 
Buckskin thongs were passed through these and 
lashed securely to the crosspiece connecting the 
two ends of the sapling. This was to prevent the 
pelt slipping down on the frame as it dried. 

“ There he is,” Indian Jake remarked, survey¬ 
ing his work with satisfaction. “Now I scrape 
him.” 

With his sheathknife he went over the skin, 
carefully scraping away all fat and clinging flesh 
until it was as clear as vellum. Then he lighted 
his pipe and sat by the fire smoking silently. 

Jim, wearied with the day’s toil, had already 
retired to the tent and his blankets. The front of 
the tent was open, and for a long while he watched 
the silent half-breed smoking by the fire. He saw 
Indian Jake, at length, reach for his rifle where 
he had laid it after shooting the wolf, clean it, and 
place it carefully in the sealskin case in which he 
carried it on the trail. 

When Jim awoke the following morning it was 


“ CONFESS OR CLEAR YOURSELF !” 115 


broad daylight. Indian Jake had already arisen. 
Jim hurried out. The fire had burned to embers. 
A fried ptarmigan was in the frying pan near the 
coals where it would remain warm, and keeping it 
company was a kettle of tea and a half-dozen cakes 
of fresh-baked camp bread. Indian Jake was no¬ 
where to be seen. 

“ Must have got up early. Wonder where he’s 
gone?” said Jim to himself. 

He ate his breakfast, and when he had cleaned 
the dishes discovered that one of their two kettles, 
together with other articles of cooking utensils, 
were missing. Further investigation disclosed the 
fact that a duifle bag, Indian Jake’s blanket, an an 
and the canoe had vanished. 

Jim was puzzled. Indian Jake had gone, and 
the provision he had made for his departure indi¬ 
cated that he was not likely to return at once. 
Had the half-breed abandoned him here in the 
midst of the wilderness? Jim was suddenly over¬ 
whelmed with a sense of helplessness and loneli¬ 
ness. lie looked about him in a daze. 


XII 

THE LEATHER WALLET 


J IM’s eye fell upon the wolf skin, on the 
stretching frame Indian Jake had made for 
it the evening before, suspended from the 
limb of a tree. 

“ That explains it! ” he exclaimed. “ Indian 
Jake said when he killed that fellow that wolves 
followed caribou, and that there wouldn’t be 
wolves if there weren’t caribou about, and he’d 
go after them and get some fresh meat. He’d 
never have taken the trouble to cook my breakfast 
and bake the bread for me if he’d been going to 
leave me. He’ll be back in a day or two with his 
canoe loaded with fresh meat.” 

With this explanation of Indian Jake’s disap¬ 
pearance, Jim was relieved from anxiety. There 
was no cause for alarm or concern. It was doubt¬ 
less the half-breed’s natural instinct to reticence 
had led him to go as he had without an explana¬ 
tion. He had doubtless supposed that Jim would 
understand that he was hunting caribou. 

Jim carefully extinguished the embers, as had 
always been the custom of Indian Jake before leav¬ 
ing a fire. Then he proceeded to make a survey 
of the lake shore. He admitted to himself that a 
year’s weathering would, in all probability, have 
obliterated any ordinary signs. He did not know 
116 


THE LEATHER WALLET 


117 


what he might find, but his heart was filled with 
the dread of some awful discovery. If his father 
and One-Eared Charley had met their death here, 
he wished to find the bodies, yet he shrank from 
the horror of such a discovery. It was his duty 
to bend every effort to find them, and his wish to 
take the remains of his father home, if they lay 
here uncared for, and give them a Christian burial, 
the last act of affection and respect that he could 
return for a lifetime of love and devotion. If the 
bodies had been thrown into the lake, as he be¬ 
lieved they had been, there was strong probability 
that they would later have risen to the surface and 
been washed ashore. It was a gruesome and re¬ 
volting task, but Jim steeled his heart to it and 
set out upon it resolved to search every yard of 
ground that the time at his disposal would permit. 

A minute exploration of fully six miles of shore 
discovered nothing. Jim had no doubt that the 
tragedy had taken place in camp, and probably 
while his father and One-Eared Charley were 
sleeping. Indian Jake would not have taken the 
trouble, he was sure, to bury the bodies. He would 
either have thrown them into the lake or dragged 
them a short distance away and hidden them in 
brush where searchers would be unlikely to find 
them. It would have been much easier to have 
thrown them into the lake. If he did this, it was 
to have been expected that they would have been 
washed ashore within the range he had searched, 
as prevailing winds during the weeks preceding 
winter blew toward this shore. 

It was mid-afternoon when he returned to 


118 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


camp. He had expected, with an expectation that 
amounted almost to certainty, to find something 
that at least would have helped him in unravelling 
the mystery of the disappearance of the two men. 
He acknowledged that it was a relief that no 
ghastly evidence of the tragedy had confronted 
him. At the same time he was disappointed that 
he had discovered nothing to assist him in any way 
in his continued search, nor, indeed, any sign to 
indicate that any human being had ever been here 
before him, other than the obvious signs of the 
old camp ground. 

He lighted a fire and put the kettle over to boil. 
When he drew from the food bag the pork to slice 
for frying he made an inventory of the supply of 
pork, and found that Indian Jake had taken but 
a small piece with him and very little of anything 
else. This satisfied him that the half-breed’s ab¬ 
sence from camp was to be a short one. He fried 
some pork, brewed some tea, and with a piece of 
the bread that Indian Jake had so considerately 
baked for him completed a satisfying meal. 

Before setting out upon his afternoon’s search 
of the surrounding brush, Jim walked down to his 
father’s old camp ground, and for several minutes 
gazed in silent reverence upon the withered boughs 
which he had no doubt had been the last bed upon 
which his father had ever slept. Suddenly his eye 
fell upon something lying half concealed under the 
edge of the dried sticks. He reached for it, and 
excitedly drew forth his father’s leather wallet. 

With trembling hands Jim opened the wallet* 
It contained no money, but there were some 


THE LEATHER WALLET 


119 


papers. Returning to his fire he seated himself, 
and unfolded and examined them. The first was 
marked: 

“ Memorandum of contract entered into with 
Patrick McCarthy, July 15, 19—. My copy of 
contract posted to Sandy Dumphry, on mail boat 
of July 30th, to be placed by him in strong box, 
with other papers, for safe keeping.” 

Then followed, in the lumberman’s small, exact 
hand, a summary of the terms of the contract: 

“ In consideration of $1,200.00 per year and 20 
per cent of net profits of Labrador logging and 
mill operation, McCarthy to assume full charge 
and responsibility of property for period of three 
years from date. 

“ McCarthy to draw on me, or, in case of my 
demise, upon fund deposited in Montreal Bank 
and set aside for purpose, to meet wages of men 
and general expense of operation until on paying 
basis. All income from property to be deposited 
in said fund. In case of my demise, Jagger, as 
provided in will, acting as trustee of fund, is to 
honour McCarthy’s drafts for support of operation. 
Stipulated that Jagger’s trusteeship of fund does 
not extend to logging operation or mill or inter¬ 
ference with McCarthy, but is limited to deposit¬ 
ing income from property into fund and paying 
out moneys from it only upon McCarthy’s drafts 
or vouchers, and for the maintenance of the steam¬ 
ship Gray Goose to be used in connection with and 
as part of equipment of operation. Captain Dobbs, 
however, and not McCarthy, to draw upon fund to 
meet ship’s expenses. 


120 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“ Contract definitely stipulates McCarthy to be 
deemed partner of concern for period of three 
years, his sole interest to be that above named, and 
to cease at end of three-year period unless renewed 
by further agreement with my son, to whom prop¬ 
erty will then pass by deed of gift or, in case of 
my demise, by terms of will.” 

With suppressed excitement Jim read and then 
reread the memorandum. 

“ That fixes it!” he exclaimed. “ Jagger had 
no authority to send Dawes or any of those men 
here. Why didn’t McCarthy tell me of this ? Like 
as not he never read the contract, but accepted it 
on faith from Dad, though it’s likely Dad read it 
to him. That was Dad’s way. Jagger has bam¬ 
boozled McCarthy in some way into believing that 
he had to turn everything over to Jagger. Thought 
that McCarthy was too ignorant to know the differ¬ 
ence and that I didn’t know about this, and tried 
to take advantage of us. That explains one reason 
why he didn’t want me to come here! I wonder 
what Sandy did with the contract? Why didn’t 
he say anything to me about it ? If the ‘ strong 
box’ he mentions was the safe in the house, and 
I suppose it was, Jagger has got possession of the 
contract. McCarthy must have his copy though, 
and when I get out we’ll show Dawes his place, 
and we’ll show Jagger where he stands later.” 

With trembling fingers Jim unfolded a paper 
marked: 

“ Memorandum of Mealy Mountain Depository 
of Papers.” 

It was brief, and Jim read: 


THE LEATHER WALLET 


121 


“ Due S. from S. E. corner Camp No. 3 for 
distance of about three miles to face of cliff. E. 
along base of cliff % mile. S. E. one mile to 
brook in gulch, which cuts mountain. Follow up 
brook about three miles to large white spruce lean¬ 
ing over brook. Up side of gulch due W. 40 rods 
—stiff climb. Entrance masked by thick spruce 
growth. Depository of papers in concealed niche.” 

Jim’s heart was beating fast now. Here was 
undoubtedly the key to the location of the cave. 
His father had, as Billy surmised, deposited papers 
there. What papers were they? Would they ex¬ 
plain what had been done with the balance of the 
fortune ? 

Other memoranda referred to log cuts, changes 
to be made in the mill, and the probable first year’s 
output of lumber. Jim read them all, and then re¬ 
read the memorandum of the contract with Mc¬ 
Carthy 

“ How did I fail to see this last evening ? ” he 
suddenly asked himself. “ It wasn’t dark enough 
to miss it. The wallet lay out in plain view, and 
I looked that ground over pretty thoroughly.” 

Then he turned the old leather wallet over in 
his hand. 

“ Why this could never have lain out there all 
winter! ” he exclaimed. “ It doesn’t look as 
though it had ever been wet! And the papers 
would have been all stuck together and almost un¬ 
readable if they’d been out in the rain and snow 
of a year! That’s strange! ” 

He hurried over to the bed of withered boughs, 
and carefully inspected the surroundings. There 


122 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


was nothing there that he had not seen the previous 
evening, and he was satisfied the wallet could not 
possibly have been there at that time and escaped 
his attention. 

u It has never been out in the weather or been 
wet,” he finally decided. “ There’s only one way it 
could have got there, and that was through Indian 
Jake. He put it there this morning before he left. 
This proves that he robbed Dad, and took the 
money out of it. Likely as not he can’t read, and 
the papers meant nothing to him. He’s been car¬ 
rying the wallet ever since, and didn’t take the 
trouble to destroy the papers. After what took 
place last night he decided to put it back there and 
let me find it and think Dad lost it where I found 
it, and that it had lain there undisturbed ever 
since. 

“ Pretty thin, but he probably reasoned that I’m 
green in the wilderness and that it would never 
occur to me that the wallet couldn’t have lain out 
all year and been so well preserved. When he 
comes back to camp he’ll have something to explain 
to me! It’s about all the proof I need that he 
robbed Dad. Now I’ve got to find out what he 
did with him and One-Eared Charley.” 

All that afternoon and all the next day Jim 
crossed and cris-crossed the surrounding country, 
and when he returned to camp after the second 
day’s search he admitted to himself that there was 
no probability of making further discovery unless 
it were to extend his search of the lake shore. 

“ Indian Jake will probably be back to-night,” 


THE LEATHER WALLET 


123 


lie said, “ and when he comes I’ll have a show¬ 
down with him.” 

But Indian Jake did not return, and early the 
following morning Jim set out in the face of a stiff 
wind to extend his search around the eastern end 
of the lake. 

For many days the weather had been clear and 
crisply cold. The gray lichen, or caribou moss, 
that carpeted the earth everywhere in lieu of grass 
was as dry and brittle as dead sticks, and crackled 
and crunched under his feet. 

A mile from camp Jim halted upon a high bluff 
to view the scene of rugged, primitive beauty 
spread out before him—the dark spruce forest with 
naked, storm-scoured, rocky mountains rising 
above it, the wide stretch of water, now beaten 
into choppy, white-capped waves by the strong 
wind, and the distant outline of western shore 
lying in a mysterious blue haze. 

“ And no human life anywhere,” murmured 
Jim, “ but Indian Jake, somewhere out there, and 
myself. It makes me feel as though I were the 
only man alive in all the world.” 

Suddenly a sound of crackling dry moss fell 
upon his ears. He listened intently. Something 
was approaching! He crouched behind a great 
boulder, from which he had a view of his surround¬ 
ings while he himself remained concealed. 

Hearer and nearer came the sound. He cocked 
his rifle and waited. 


XIII 

THE BLIZZARD 


J IM knew that the approaching sounds were 
made by slowly traveling animals of some 
sort. He had visions of a pack of wolves, or 
possibly a bear and her cubs. He was surprised, 
therefore, when three caribou, sauntering leisurely 
toward the lake and browsing upon the moss, ap¬ 
peared at the edge of the woods. He was on the 
lee of them, and in the strong wind they had not 
scented his presence. 

Jim had never hunted big game, and here was 
an opportunity to secure a much needed supply of 
fresh meat. This was great luck. In the lead was 
a fine big buck, with a wide spread of antlers. 
Jim’s hands trembled as he raised his rifle and 
drew a bead upon the buck. It was an exciting 
and tense moment. He waited for the animals to 
approach a little nearer. Then he fired. 

The three caribou raised their heads, startled, 
but uncertain in which direction lay the threat¬ 
ened danger. Jim, to his astonishment, had made 
a clean miss, though the buck at which he had fired 
stood less than seventy-five yards distant. He fired 
again, and again he missed. 

Then the animals wheeled for a retreat, and as 
their stampede began Jim sent a third bullet after 
124 


THE BLIZZARD 


125 


the buck. The big fellow stumbled, lurched for¬ 
ward, arose to its knees, and fell again. This time 
the bullet had found its mark. 

The other two caribou had already disappeared 
into the timber, and Jim in a state of wild excite¬ 
ment ran forward to the fallen buck. The animal, 
threshing about, unable to regain its feet, was 
badly wounded, and another bullet at close range 
was necessary to dispatch it. 

In his inexperience, Jim found the work of 
skinning and dressing the animal long and tedious. 
But before midday the task was completed, and 
with a hind quarter on his shoulder he hurried 
back to camp to fetch his tumpline to assist him in 
carrying the remainder, and in two loads trans¬ 
ferred it to camp. 

He now cut a stiff pole and laid it with the ends 
resting in the crotches of two convenient trees, and 
with pieces of rope suspended the meat from the 
pole, between the trees. Here it would be safe 
from marauding animals, and would keep cool and 
fresh and sweet. 

The wind had been steadily increasing in 
velocity, and was now blowing half a gale. The 
lake was in turmoil, and great waves were rolling 
in and breaking in wild fury upon the boulder- 
bound shore. Ho canoe could stem the wind or 
live in the sea that was running, and Jim knew 
that he could not expect the return of Indian Jake 
until the wind and lake subsided. The weather, 
too, had grown decidedly colder and the spray that 
showered the shore rocks was freezing and coating 
them with a glaze of ice. 


12G THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


It was too late and too uncomfortable in the 
open to continue that day his explorations, and 
he set up the stove in the tent and, lighting a fire, 
prepared for a feast. He put over the kettle to 
boil for tea and then cut some thick, luscious steaks 
for the pan. Presently the tent, now cozily warm, 
was filled with the odour of frying steak and brew¬ 
ing tea. Jim had eaten nothing since early morn¬ 
ing, and, always blessed with a good appetite, he 
was now famished and ravenous. He was sure he 
had never eaten such tender, juicy steaks in all his 
life, and supplementing the meat with the last of 
Indian Jake’s bread and several cups of tea, he 
feasted as only a hungry, healthy man, living the 
vigourous life of the open can feast. 

“ Indian Jake seems to have gone a long dis¬ 
tance to get caribou,” he remarked with self-com¬ 
placency, as he washed and dried the dishes. 
“ He’ll be surprised when he hears that I knocked 
one over right close to camp, and without even 
going to look for it. It came near getting away 
though. I guess I was pretty lucky to get it, but 
I won’t tell him that.” 

With darkness the wind developed into a full 
gale. It shrieked and howled through the tree 
tops. The lake, seething with foam, was smashing 
and pounding against the shore rocks and sending 
spray a half-hundred feet into the air. Jim tight¬ 
ened the tent pins and ridge rope. He was thank¬ 
ful that the tent had been pitched between two 
sturdy trees and in the shelter of the forest. Had 
it been in the more open space nearer the lake 
shore he was quite sure no pins or ropes would 


THE BLIZZARD 


127 


have been sufficient to hold it or have prevented 
it from being swept away. 

When all was made snug and secure he returned 
to the tent and sat for a long while listening to the 
roar of the breakers rising above the shriek of 
wind. Finally he filled the stove with wood, closed 
the drafts and rolled into his blankets, and quite 
satisfied and happy with his day’s work, and a 
sense of snug security, was soon asleep. 

Two or three times during the night Jim was 
awakened by cold. It was evident that there had 
been a decided drop in temperature. On each oc¬ 
casion he refilled the stove with wood, and the 
comforting warmth soon sent him again into sleep. 
At dawn he arose and discovered snow drifting 
under the front of the tent. He looked out, and 
was met by a cloud of swirling, blinding snow. 
He could not see ten feet away. Snow had ap¬ 
parently been falling for several hours, and the 
wind had not abated since the previous evening. 

When he presently went to the lake for water, 
the drift was so dense that he could scarce breathe, 
and the wind so strong that he could only keep his 
feet with the greatest difficulty. Returning, he 
lost his way, and he was several minutes groping 
about in the blinding drift before he found the 
tent. 

Jim breathed with relief when he was within 
the warm shelter again. He had never before in 
his life experienced such a storm, and the thought 
that Indian Jake was somewhere out there in the 
forest, and perhaps exposed to all the fury of the 
blizzard, made him shudder. 


128 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“ But I guess lie’s all right,” lie said. “ This is 
his country. He’s been weathering such storms as 
this and worse all his life, and he knows how to 
take care of himself. He’s likely built some sort 
of shelter where he’ll be safe and snug enough till 
the storm passes.” 

All that day snow fell and the blizzard blew 
without abatement. It was so terrific, indeed, that 
Jim did not again venture to the lake for water, 
but resorted to the expedient of melting snow for 
his needs. To venture even that short distance 
was to take a dangerous risk. 

But with the stock of venison secured the day 
before, there was plenty of good food, and Jim 
relaxed and feasted. It was, indeed, the first rest 
and relaxation he had permitted himself since he 
and Indian Jake left the bay. He cooked himself 
a delicious breakfast of caribou liver and bacon, 
and banqueted at noon and in the evening on 
steaks. 

“ I’ve been letting myself worry about what I 
might find here or might not find, and I was pretty 
tired all over. I guess a day or two of loafing 
won’t do me any harm,” he said, when he rolled in 
his blankets that night. “ I certainly feel a lot 
better for it.” 

The following morning dawned clear and calm, 
but there was a new bite of frost in the air that 
was disconcerting. Winter had come. There was 
no doubt of that. In the forest the snow lay 
nearly knee deep where the trees had protected it 
from the force of the driving gale. The wind, 
however, had swept the naked shores of the lake 


THE BLIZZARD 


129 


and the barren reaches clear as a floor, save where 
gullies and rocks formed lodgment for great drifts. 

Still Indian Jake did not return. Day after day 
Jim scanned the waters of the lake in the vain 
hope that he might see the canoe approaching. 
Each night darkness fell with disappointment. 

With passing days anxiety grew into deep con¬ 
cern. Had the half-breed perished in the storm? 
Could any man in the open and shelterless have 
survived it? Then Jim’s thoughts slipped back to 
the manner of Indian Jake’s going, silently and 
without a word of explanation. Perhaps he had 
never intended to return. Perhaps he had ac¬ 
cepted Jim’s challenge, given on the night of their 
arrival at the lake after Indian Jake had shot the 
wolf. Jim had challenged him then to convict 
himself upon the ground where the crime of a year 
ago had been committed, if he were guilty, or to 
clear himself with a convincing explanation of the 
manner in which he had come into possession of 
the money which he had paid out at the trading 
post upon his return to the bay. Could this be the 
answer to that challenge? 

Jim decided finally that it was. Indian Jake’s 
failure to return, he reasoned, was undoubtedly 
the half-breed’s method of defiantly confessing his 
guilt. He placed the wallet on the bed of withered 
boughs, before his departure, and in a conspicuous 
place where he was quite sure Jim could not fail 
to discover it. He had placed it there as a token 
of his confession. 

“ That’s it,” said Jim. “ It’s as plain as if he 
had said, ‘ I am guilty. I killed your father and 


130 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


robbed bim. Here is tbe wallet from wbicb I took 
bis money. Take tbe wallet and make tbe most 
of it/ Then be ran away, or sneaked away, to 
avoid arrest. He’s through with tbe bay. He’s 
bidden himself in tbe wilderness where be is per¬ 
fectly at home, but where be knew well enough I 
could not follow bim or find bim. He played safe 
in that respect. After all be bad little to lose by 
not returning to Eskimo Bay. He can settle him¬ 
self anywhere else in this country just as well, 
where be won’t be known. Tbe wide wilderness 
has always been bis home, and it doesn’t matter 
much what part of tbe wilderness be settles in. 

“ That’s tbe explanation. He didn’t take much 
grub or outfit with bim because be wanted to travel 
fast and didn’t want to hamper himself with 
weight. He’s likely gone down tbe southern divide 
to some trading post on tbe St. Lawrence, where 
he’ll take up bis quarters as a trapper. It’s likely 
be has some of tbe money yet that be took from 
Dad, and with a few dollars be can buy another 
tent and outfit to take tbe place of what be left 
behind. He could kill all tbe game be needed. 
He’s certainly a fine hunter.” 

Thus Jim reasoned to a plausible conclusion as 
be sat in tbe tent one night ten days after bis ar¬ 
rival at the lake. With tbe realization that Indian 
Jake bad deliberately deserted bim in tbe midst of 
tbe wilderness, be was suddenly overwhelmed with 
a sense of helplessness. 

Jim arose and went out into tbe starlight. He 
looked about bim, on tbe snow-clad wilderness, in 
a daze. Winter bad come. He bad no canoe. His 


THE BLIZZARD 


131 


delay, in waiting these days for Indian Jake, 
might prove fatal. Why had he delayed? He 
might have known, he told himself, that when the 
half-breed did not return immediately after the 
blizzard that he would not return. His journey 
out of the country on foot with a necessarily heavy 
pack would be slow. Already the snow lay nearly 
knee deep in the forest, and other storms would 
certainly overtake him to increase his difficulties 
before he could reach Eskimo Bay. The nearest 
human habitation was two hundred miles away. 

He recalled Billy’s warning that Indian Jake 
would take advantage of him. Billy knew the half- 
breed and the dangers of the country, and he 
should have listened to the warning and permitted 
Billy or some one else to come with him. But he 
had been headstrong and conceited. He had be¬ 
lieved that he could take care of himself anywhere, 
but as compared to Indian Jake he was as helpless 
in the wilderness as a little child. The man had 
not harmed him, to be sure, but on the contrary 
had looked after his comforts to a much greater 
extent than he had had any reason to expect—had 
not harmed him directly. But in abandoning him 
he had doubtless relied upon the wilderness and 
the elements to do the thing he had not actually 
done himself. 

Jim returned to the tent to sit and plan, and a 
new thought presented itself to him with the sud¬ 
denness of a shock. What would the people of the 
settlement say when he returned alone and in pos¬ 
session of Indian Jake’s tent and outfit? Would 
they believe him when he told them that Indian 


132 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


Jake had abandoned him, and left his property 
behind him? Was it reasonable for them to be¬ 
lieve that any native of the country would wil¬ 
lingly do that? Everyone in the bay knew, or 
would know, the feeling of suspicion and antago¬ 
nism that he entertained toward Indian Jake upon 
entering the wilderness. He was sure that no one 
would believe that the half-breed would have de¬ 
liberately abandoned his tent and outfit. 

There would be no evidence in support of his 
story. Suspicion would at once be directed toward 
him. It was quite natural that the people would 
accuse him of having murdered the man to avenge 
his father’s death, even though they suspected In¬ 
dian Jake to have been guilty of murdering his 
father. His possession of the tent would be strong 
circumstantial evidence to support the charge. To 
be sure, they would have no corpus delicti, no body 
to produce to support the charge, and without that 
he could not be convicted in a court of law. But 
it was a thing that would follow him all his life. 
Men would believe it and look upon him with ab¬ 
horrence, and his friends would shun him. Dawes 
would make the most of it, not only here in Labra¬ 
dor, but at home. 

He had to think. He felt stifled, and he arose 
again and leaving the tent walked down to the lake 
shore. The ice-clad boulders glistened in the star¬ 
light. The snow squeaked under his tread. The 
surroundings had assumed a new and uncanny 
aspect. For half an hour he paced up and down 
the shore. Suddenly spreading his arms toward 
the water, he exclaimed: 


THE BLIZZARD 


133 


“Lake of Tragedy! Why have you sent so 
much trouble into my life ? ” 

There was no time to be lost. To remain here 
would be to perish. He had already delayed his 
departure many days longer that he should have 
done. He knew that he must return to the settle¬ 
ment and return at once if he was to escape the 
deep snows soon to come. 

Jim turned his back upon the lake, and trans¬ 
ferred some of the venison from the pole between 
the trees to the tent. By the light of a candle he 
stripped it from the bones with his sheathknife, 
throwing the bones out as unnecessary weight and 
packing the meat ready for his tumpline. 

There still remained a few pounds of flour, some 
salt and a little pork. These were placed in a 
duffle bag into which he could also pack the frying 
pan and cup after he had eaten in the morning. 
The meat and the duffle bag containing these pro¬ 
visions and cooking utensils, together with his 
blanket, a suit of underclothing, some extra socks, 
the wolf skin, which was light and would add 
warmth to his bed, the light tent, the tent stove, 
his ax and his rifle would make a heavy load for 
the long trail, but he felt that all were necessary 
for his existence. 

The remaining odds and ends of equipment he 
placed in an empty flour bag, tied it securely and 
hung it on the pole with the balance of the meat, 
which he was to abandon. 

Jim prepared and ate his breakfast long before 
daylight the following morning. In the cold star¬ 
light he broke camp, completed his preparations 


134 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


for departure, and with the first hint of gray dawn 
swung his pack upon his back and set out upon the 
trail to Eskimo Bay. It was a trail that was to 
try his grit, his fortitude and his manhood as they 
had never been tried before. To an extent that he 
would have believed, indeed, beyond the limits of 
human endurance. It is a wise provision of the 
Great Father that we cannot read the future or 
know what lies before us. 


XIV 


THE STRUGGLE DOWN THE TRAIL 

T HE morning was cloudless. Rime hung 
in the air like a mist, and quickly cov¬ 
ered Jim’s adikey with a film of crystals. 
The brush was thickly coated with them, and a 
covering lay upon the snow. Presently the sun 
rose, and the light filtering through the mist of 
rime transformed it into a veil of silver. Every 
hush and shrub shone as though encrusted with 
diamonds. 

Never had Jim witnessed such a wondrous 
winter setting. The marvelous beauty of it all was 
beyond compare. The wilderness was in a fine 
mood. It was great to live in such a beautiful 
world! It was great to he alive and strong! The 
joy of life welled up within him. 

There were two lakes and a range of hills lying 
between the Lake of Tragedy, as Jim had called 
it, and the small lake in which the Kenamou River 
had its rise and turned down into its narrow val¬ 
ley. With no canoe to carry him across these 
lakes, Jim suddenly realized that it would be neces¬ 
sary to detour around the shores. This would in¬ 
crease the distance at least one-third and add sev¬ 
eral miles to his journey. 

This thought, which came to him at the end of 
the first half-hour when he threw off his pack to 
135 


136 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


rest, was a bit discouraging and brought him back 
to a realization of the stern conditions which he 
faced, and in it he forgot the beauties of the morn¬ 
ing that had so enthralled him. 

Traveling through the snow was harder than he 
had expected to find it, and he was all at once over¬ 
whelmed by the loneliness and desolation of his 
surroundings. He remembered now only the fact 
that he was alone in this vast, trackless solitude. 
What if another severe storm should overtake him 
before he could reach the settlement? Walking 
then would be well-nigh impossible. 

He had reached the edge of a frozen marsh, and 
a breeze which had sprung up, sweeping over the 
marsh, cut like a knife. The whole face of the 
country had been changed by the snow. There 
was no landmark that he recognized, and he was 
by no means sure that he was on the right trail. 
A slight variation to the eastward or the westward 
might cause him to miss the first lake, and if he 
missed it he would be lost 1 

He shouldered his pack and trudged out over the 
frozen, open waste. Here the gale that had ac¬ 
companied the storm had carried away the mass 
of snow, leaving only a thin crust, and he found 
the walking much easier than in the forest. 
Beyond the marsh he entered a narrow fringe of 
forest, and emerging on the opposite side was sur¬ 
prised and delighted to behold the now partly 
frozen lake glimmering before him. His heart 
leaped with joy at this assurance that he was on 
the right course. He had covered the distance of 



TRAVELING THROUGH THE SNOW WAS HARDER THAN HE EXPECTED, 





THE STRUGGLE DOWN THE TRAIL 137 


the last portage he and Indian Jake had made 
going inland. 

Here he recognized for the first since setting out 
a definite landmark, a flat rock upon which they 
had made their landing and unloaded the canoe, 
and where, he recalled, they had boiled the kettle 
before beginning the portage. 

Jim sat down upon the rock to rest briefly. To 
the right of him, partly covered with snow, was 
the charred wood where they had extinguished 
their fire before leaving it. This reminder was 
like a grim ghost rising out of the past to mock 
him. It had been but eleven days since he and 
Indian Jake sat by that fire and lunched, but so 
much had happened in those eleven days that it 
seemed to him that it had been months before. All 
at once he found himself wishing that Indian Jake 
were traveling with him now, not for the help that 
he would give him, but for companionship. 

But the days were growing short, and there was 
no time to dawdle in retrospect and contemplation, 
and after five minutes’ respite he set forward again 
with fresh hope and confidence. One point on the 
trail where there had been danger of going astray 
was passed, and that thought brought relief. 

That night Jim reached the farther side of the 
second lake. He and Indian Jake had made the 
entire distance from the river to the Lake of 
Tragedy in a single day’s travel. But the fact 
that he had not been able to accomplish so much 
now did not cause him anxiety. In skirting the 
lakes he had been compelled to travel many miles 
farther than they had traveled with the canoe. , 


138 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


The following day Jim crossed the hills, naked, 
wind-swept, desolate. Here above the tree limit 
the silence was even more profound than in the 
wooded country below. It was startling in its 
density. Down there he had occasionally encoun¬ 
tered a Canada jay or a chickadee. Here there 
was neither movement nor sound, not even the 
whisper of wind through the tree tops; and as he 
looked about him he could see for miles in every 
direction an endless expanse of snow-clad forest 
or barren waste, and everywhere the silence of the 
tomb. Again the thought forced itself upon him 
that in all that wide sweep of country, and for end¬ 
less miles beyond the range of his vision, no human 
creature lived or moved but himself. A dead, un¬ 
natural calm prevailed. The atmosphere seemed 
permeated with mystery, and the world, with bated 
breath, to await some dread cataclysm. 

Jim hurried down the slopes and into the val¬ 
ley. He breathed easier when he again entered the 
forest. It spread about him like a protecting 
cloak, and gave him a sense of security. He felt 
also a vast relief that he had at last reached the 
river valley in safety. It would be easy enough 
now to keep his course with the river by his side 
to guide him. 

That night he traveled until twilight settled, and 
hurriedly made camp in the gathering dusk. It 
seemed to him that he had never before known the 
full extent of physical weariness that the human 
body can endure. When he had lighted a fire in 
the stove he threw himself down for a respite 
before preparing his evening meal. His legs 


THE STRUGGLE DOWN THE TRAIL 139 


throbbed, and every bone and muscle in his body 
cried for rest. 

He lay back with his head pillowed upon his 
duffle bag, too weary to prepare food. The stove 
sent forth a luxurious glow of warmth, and in a 
moment he slept. It was hours afterwards when 
he awoke shivering with cold and famished with 
hunger. The stove was cold. A candle which he 
had left burning had consumed and extinguished 
itself, and the tent was in darkness. 

Groping about, he found another candle and 
lighted it, and kindling a fresh fire in the stove, 
went out with the kettle to fill it at the river for 
tea. It was snowing heavily. Already a consid¬ 
erable depth had accumulated. 

Returning with the water he cooked a substan¬ 
tial meal of venison and drank some hot tea. The 
tent was again warm and cozy, and the meal re¬ 
vived his spirits. The consternation that he had 
felt upon discovering the snow, gave place to hope¬ 
fulness and reassurance. He was in the river val¬ 
ley. In the country between the Lake of Tragedy 
and the river had lain his greatest peril. That 
dangerous stretch of country was behind him, and 
there was no longer any real cause for worry. 
There was no possibility now that he might lose 
his way. Even though the trail to the bay was 
long, he would conquer it! He might have to 
lighten his pack and cache some of his outfit, but 
he could, in a pinch, do well enough with less. 

At any rate, he decided, there was no advantage 
to be had from worrying about the snow and the 
future, and if he permitted himself to worry he 


140 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


would lose his morale. He must maintain his 
morale at all costs, for that was more than half 
the battle, and without it he would fail. The half 
panic that had seized him during the day and had 
remained with him until now was wholly the re¬ 
sult of a too active imagination. 

The work before him would he hard, to he sure, 
but he was strong and well, and for the present had 
enough to eat. He would not permit his imagina¬ 
tion to get the better of him again. He recalled 
that his father often said that half the troubles 
people bear are anticipated troubles, born of 
imagination, which never materialize in fact, or if 
they do materialize it is because the victim is led 
into them by imaginative suggestion. He would 
not again permit himself to imagine troubles that 
might never befall him. He would do his best each 
day, and let each day take care of itself. In some 
manner, come what might, he would fight his way 
to the settlement and to safety in spite of the 
falling snow outside. He would not lose his head. 

And so Jim, much rested by his sleep and stimu¬ 
lated by a good substantial meal, fell into a hap¬ 
pier and less anxious frame of mind. 

It occurred to him that if the meat were dried 
its weight would be considerably reduced while its 
quality of sustenance would not be materially im¬ 
paired. He proceeded at once to cut the meat into 
slabs one-half inch thick. These he suspended 
along the ridge of the tent, where the heat from 
the stove would act upon them quickly. The wind 
was rising, and before morning a blizzard would 
be in progress that would keep him a prisoner in 


THE STRUGGLE DOWN THE TRAIL 141 


the tent until it subsided. “ Anyhow,” he said to 
himself, “ the meat will he drying and my pack 
will be lighter when I can travel again.” 

He drew forth the precious wallet, and reread 
the memoranda that it contained, and planned the 
course that he should take with Dawes upon reach¬ 
ing the mill. He recognized the fact that he, him¬ 
self, had no authority to depose Dawes, but Mc¬ 
Carthy, as a partner in the enterprise, had full 
authority to do so. He would lose no time in 
seeing McCarthy upon his return. 

Why, he asked himself, had the Irishman backed 
down and handed supervision of the operation over 
to Dawes ? That was a question that puzzled him. 
McCarthy was a lumberman of the old school and 
normally inclined not only to stand on his rights 
but to fight for them. 

McCarthy, too, had spoken well of Indian Jake, 
and indeed defended him. Why had he been so 
certain that there was no cause to fear the half- 
breed? Was McCarthy growing old and losing his 
judgment of men and his grip upon things? Jim 
admitted to himself that it was all a mystery that 
he could not solve. Finally he put away the wal¬ 
let and rolled into his blankets. 

All that night and the next day a blizzard raged, 
and any attempt to travel would have been fool¬ 
hardy. When another day dawned, clear but cold, 
Jim broke camp and resumed his journey. The 
snow was well above his knees, and the labour of 
travel was vastly increased. He did not spare him¬ 
self, however, but floundered forward bearing his 
heavy pack. It was a constant struggle, and when 


142 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


lie camped that night he was on the verge of ex¬ 
haustion though he was sure he had put less than 
ten miles behind him. 

It was evident he must lighten his pack. If 
more snow came, as undoubtedly it would, before 
he could reach the bay, travel would become well- 
nigh impossible. Greater speed must be made 
even at a considerable sacrifice of comfort, and to 
do this it would be necessary to abandon every 
ounce that would not be absolutely essential to 
safety. 

With a lighter pack he calculated that he could 
travel a third faster, and should reach the settle¬ 
ment in fifteen days at the farthest. His provision 
supply was now the heaviest item. This would be 
reduced by daily consumption. The drying ex¬ 
pedient had lessened the weight of the meat by 
nearly one-half. A pound or so of sugar, a little 
salt, some tea, a small piece of pork and about 
Ihirty pounds of flour remained of the original 
supplies taken into the wilderness. He decided to 
abandon one-half of the flour, together with odds 
and ends from his duffle bag, including extra un¬ 
derclothing, but retaining two extra pairs of 
woolen socks. He discovered to his delight that 
these eliminations made a material reduction in 
the weight of his pack. With much satisfaction he 
placed the articles to be abandoned in one of his 
bags and suspended the bag from a limb of a tree. 

The weather grew steadily colder. The snow 
no longer thawed or softened under the midday sun. 
Fortunately during the next week no snow fell, 
and with his lighter pack Jim made much better 


THE STRUGGLE DOWN THE TRAIL 143 


progress. Except where there were rapids, the 
river was now frozen solidly near the banks, and 
by taking advantage of this and walking upon the 
unobstructed new ice he was able to avoid much 
of the labour of floundering through deep snow. 

One day, venturing too near a rapid, he broke 
through the ice, and was immersed to his waist. 
Upon reaching shore his clothing froze stiff and 
hard, but it was mid-afternoon and he did not halt 
to light a fire and dry himself until his usual camp¬ 
ing time in the evening. Then when a fire was 
lighted in the stove and he removed his outer gar¬ 
ments, his feet, exposed to the heat, cried out with 
pain. An examination revealed the fact that both 
feet were severely frost-bitten. 

Walking the next morning was painful, but Jim 
gritted his teeth and pushed on. Presently his feet 
became numb, and during the afternoon gave him 
little discomfort. 

That evening, however, when he made camp and 
the stove began to throw out its heat, the pain was 
quite as severe as on the evening before. Remov¬ 
ing his moccasins he discovered that the stockings 
on both feet were clotted to the flesh by blood. 
This was decidedly discouraging. His feet had 
been more severely frosted than he had supposed, 
and in several places the skin had sloughed off. 

Jim had no means of dressing and bandaging. 
He greased his wounds with caribou tallow, and 
drew on fresh stockings. He would have to grin 
and bear it. 

The sky was overcast with leaden-gray clouds 
when Jim broke camp and limped painfully away 


144 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 


down the valley. The trail seemed endless. He 
had lost all record of time. He had long since for¬ 
gotten the day of the week or the month. He felt 
like one doomed to wander forever and forever 
through limitless wastes of snow. Not a breath of 
wind stirred. There was no movement, no sound 
anywhere. Not even a jay broke the silence with 
its harsh cry. The solitude and loneliness were 
complete, desperately complete and maddening. 

A few flakes of snow fluttered silently down 
through the trees. Steadily the snow increased 
until presently it was falling in a silent, dense 
cloud. Jim trudged doggedly on. By mid-after¬ 
noon he was floundering forward with the greatest 
difficulty, sinking sometimes nearly to his hips. 
‘At length, exhausted with the effort, he surren¬ 
dered to the elements, and halting in the shelter of 
a grove of spruce trees, near the river bank, pitched 
his tent. 

For four days and nights the snow fell unceas¬ 
ingly, relentlessly. Inch by inch, foot by foot, it 
piled itself up upon the frozen world, building 
about Jim a prison from which there was no 
escape. The evil tempered winter had come into 
its own to rule the world and crush into oblivion 
any who opposed its reign. 

Then came the wind. For a day and a night 
it roared and shrieked through the tree tops. 
Lying awake in the tent at night, listening to it, 
the weird fancy obsessed Jim’s brain that it was 
the hopeless cry of the souls of men who had per¬ 
ished in the wilderness, and he was glad when the 
morning light came to clear his mind and his 


THE STRUGGLE DOWN THE TRAIL 145 


vision. In the open spaces no man could have 
lived an hour in the withering, blighting cold and 
blinding clouds of drifting snow. In the sheltered 
forest Jim found it possible, with much labour, to 
beat a path the short distance to the river to fill 
his kettle with water as he required it, and to cut, 
near the tent, sufficient wood for his needs. 

Eurther travel now without the aid of snowshoes 
was impossible. This was the end of his trail. It 
was hard to comprehend it. No effort that he 
could make now could save him. The settlement 
was hopelessly beyond his reach, and there was 
nothing that he could do but accept the fact as 
courageously as possible, and meet his fate as a 
brave man should. 


XV 

THE END OF HOPE 


J IM made an inventory of his provisions. 
There were three full days’ rations remain¬ 
ing. By cutting this into an allowance of one 
meal a day instead of three he would have some¬ 
thing to eat for nine days. He would even be able, 
by cutting down this daily allowance, to make it 
serve him for a longer period. In any case, he de¬ 
termined to live as long as possible. With the 
stubborn tenacity and purpose of his Scotch an¬ 
cestry he resolved never to surrender. It was his 
duty to God and to himself to live as long as he 
could keep the breath of life in his body. If he 
was to die here he would at least die like a man, 
fighting to the last for life. 

“ It looks pretty bad for me,” he confessed. 
“ I’m in a hole, and there doesn’t seem to be any 
way of climbing out of it. Only a miracle can 
save me, and the day of miracles is past. But, 
anyhow, I’ll stick it out as long as I can.” 

Jim’s feet were so badly swollen and so painful 
that he moved about to do his daily tasks with the 
greatest difficulty. Nevertheless, with grim pur¬ 
pose, he took advantage of his strength, which he 
realized would wane with a diminished ration, to 
cut and store wood and make preparation for the 
days of helplessness that he knew would eventually 
146 


THE END OF HOPE 


147 


overtake him. Work made him forget himself 
and his desperate situation, and he worked as he 
had never worked before. 

The food which he allowed himself each day, 
Jim divided into two parts. One of these he ate 
in the morning, the other in the evening. At mid¬ 
day he stimulated himself with strong tea. With 
‘this he was fortunately well supplied, thanks to 
Indian Jake and to his own decision to cache none 
of it. He was always hungry, ravenously hungry. 
Tood was uppermost in his thoughts. He recalled 
good meals that he had eaten in the past—at home, 
on the ship, and even since he had been on the 
trail. He laughed as he recalled the pudding, 
boiled in a soiled towel at Number One camp, 
when he had visited McCarthy. He had rejected 
it then, but give him a chance at it now! He 
would never complain against the quality of food 
again! If he could get out of this scrape by any 
means, he would eat anything that might be set 
before him and appreciate it. With vain regret 
he remembered the caribou meat that he had 
cached at the Lake of Tragedy, and the flour that 
he had so recently left in the cache by the river. 

He was growing more gaunt and weak every 
day. A feeling of lassitude was stealing over him 
and he found himself daily less able to shake it off. 
Whenever he sat down his knees gave way sud¬ 
denly. He had a greater desire to sleep than pre¬ 
viously. He observed the symptoms with grim re¬ 
gret. At first he fought against them, but when 
he found he could not overcome them, accepted 


148 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


them as one accepts the Inevitable, with resig¬ 
nation. 

A day came when he ate the last of his food, 
though he still had some tea, and it always proved 
an excellent stimulant. It was two or three days 
later that his eyes fell upon his cowhide moc¬ 
casins. His feet were now so swollen and sore that 
he could not wear them. Why not eat them ? He 
eagerly drew his sheathknife and cut one of them 
into narrow strips and these strips into little 
squares, and placing the pieces in the kettle, 
boiled them for an hour. Removing the kettle 
from the stove, he discovered that the water in 
which the leather was boiled was greasy. He 
poured some of it into a cup and drank it. It con¬ 
tained some sustenance, he was sure. Then bit by 
bit he ate what he considered a fair ration of the 
leather for one day. The balance he put away 
and hoarded like a miser hoards his gold, and for 
three days he munched moccasin leather, as he 
doled it out to himself at stated intervals. The 
nutriment was little, but it provided something to 
eat and he ate both of the moccasins to the last 
morsel. 

“ I’ve heard of people fasting for thirty or forty 
days,” Jim smiled grimly. “Now I’ll have a 
chance to try it. But I’m starting with a big 
handicap. Those fellows began with full stomachs. 
I’m empty as a drained hogshead, and getting 
weaker every minute.” 

He held up his hands and surveyed them criti¬ 
cally. The skin was drawn tightly over the bones. 
He had tightened his belt several inches. His 


THE END OF HOPE 


149 


clothing, ragged and torn by brush, hung loosely 
upon his frame. 

But the first pangs of hunger had passed. The 
fearful craving for food that he had experienced 
when eating a little every day no longer tortured 
him. It was growing daily harder to move about, 
and he had a desire to doze a great deal. It was 
not an unpleasant feeling, and had it not been for 
the trouble his frozen feet caused him, he would 
have suffered no pain. 

■Several times in the days that followed he fan¬ 
cied that he heard men shouting, and he went out 
of the tent, hope running high, to shout in answer. 
But the shouting men were children of his fevered 
imagination, and only the empty forest echoed 
back his call. 

Whenever he slept he dreamed of home. He 
was always a little boy again in his dreams, and 
it was always springtime. The lilacs in the back 
yard of their home were in bloom, and he could 
smell the sweet fragrance. His mother was usually 
with him, and sometimes his father would join 
them. Or it was bedtime, and he was kneeling at 
his mother’s knee to say his evening prayer, and 
he felt her gentle hand upon his head. Then she 
would tuck him into bed, and brush back the locks 
from his forehead as she stooped to kiss him. At 
this point he would always awake, and sometimes 
reach up to take his mother’s hand in his, before 
he was aroused to the realities of his desolate camp. 
It was a sweet dream, and soothing, for his tired 
brain. 

With much thought of her, he fell to hearing her 


150 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


voice and feeling the touch of her hand in his 
waking hours. Finally his fevered imagination 
made her presence real. Though he could never 
see her, he heard her voice, and she was always 
‘telling him to be brave and keep up his fight for 
life and in the end all would be well with him. 
All this brought him comfort and a daily renewal 
of hope that in some manner he would be able, at 
last, to extricate himself from the wilderness. 

Then came a morning when he discovered his 
legs would no longer permit him to move outside 
Ihe tent. He tottered to the entrance of the tent, 
and, too weak to walk farther, crouched there while 
he drew within some of the last of the supply of 
wood he had cut in his stronger days. How long 
ago that seemed! 

He gathered some snow in the kettle, placed it 
on the stove to melt, and with the snow water 
brewed tea. In a disconnected way he was thank¬ 
ful that he had carried an ample supply of tea. 
'He drank some of it and felt better. 

Then he lay down and rolled into his blankets, 
and with the thought that he must keep alive to 
see the light of one more day, consciousness faded 
in blessed sleep. 


XVI 

BILLY HAND GIVES AX ALARM 


I T was the end of the second week in Novem¬ 
ber. Winter had set in in earnest. October 
had been a stormy month, and the snow lay 
more than three feet deep in the sheltered forest, 
where there had been no drift. One could not take 
a dozen paces from the door without the assistance 
of snowshoes, and in the forest travel without them 
had been quite impossible since the second week 
in October. Uncle Ben Rudder, of Tuggle Bight, 
declared he had never seen November begin with 
so much snow, and Unole Ben was one of the 
“ oldest inhabitants.” 

Already the inland lakes and streams were hard 
frozen, not to be released again from their ice 
shackles until the winter’s break-up should come 
the following June. The restless waters of Eskimo 
Bay, however, were still free, though they were 
Ki smoking,” and any morning might find them fast 
bound for the winter. The sheltered harbour at 
The Jug was still open to boats, and Roaring 
Brook, pouring down through its rocky gorge in 
its haste to join its waters with those of the sea, 
still defied the winter’s cold. But Roaring Brook 
was so swift and tumultuous that it was quite able 
to defend itself against the grasp of the ice king’s 
ruthless fingers until the very depth of winter, long 
151 


152 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


after the rest of the world, and even Eskimo Bay, 
had been crushed into submission and frozen into 
silence. 

In mid j September, Thomas Angus, accompanied 
by Micah Dunk, a young lad of Snug Cove, had 
departed for his trapping trail, far into the in¬ 
ferior, not to return until the long winter had 
passed, and the lakes and streams had cleared 
themselves of ice. 

David Angus, during his father’s absence, was 
the head of the house, while he trapped his father’s 
old hunting grounds in the forest at the very edge 
of which stood the cabin at The Jug. Presently, 
when the sea froze, Andy was to drive the dog 
team for Doctor Joe when Doctor Joe made his 
long sledge journeys visiting the cabins of the 
coast to heal the sick, and at these times Jamie 
would be Margaret’s companion and do the chores 
about the cabin, and snare rabbits in the nearby 
woods for Margaret to cook. 

Margaret kept the house. 'She was now nine¬ 
teen, and had mothered the boys and been her 
father’s housekeeper since the mother died when 
she was a little lass of twelve, and Jamie, the 
youngest, was a wee lad of five. Thomas and Doc¬ 
tor Joe both declared there was no tidier little 
housekeeper than Margaret on the whole coast. 
The cabin was, indeed, always neat and clean and 
spotless, and Margaret was herself a model of 
tidiness. 

Doctor Joe, when not away visiting the sick, was 
to spend the winter with Margaret and the boys 
at The Jug. His home was at Break Cove, three 


BILLY HAND GIVES AN ALARM 153 


miles below The Jug, where he lived quite alone 
in summer. He was their nearest neighbour. 

He was not a native of the country, but had ap¬ 
peared on the coast a stranger, a year or two after 
the death of Mrs. Angus. He came penniless, 
destitute and a homeless derelict. Thomas Angus, 
big-hearted and sympathetic, took him in and be¬ 
friended him, helped him to build his cabin at 
Break Cove and taught him the art of trapping. 
He told Thomas that his name was Joseph Carver, 
but because of his skill in dressing wounds and 
setting broken bones and caring for the sick, every¬ 
body about the bay, including Thomas, soon began 
to call him “ Doctor Joe,” and Doctor Joe he had 
been to them ever since. 

It was now two years since Jamie, then a lad 
of ten years, complained of a mist in his eyes. The 
mist thickened, and in a few weeks so completely 
shut out the light that he became almost blind. 

Then it was that Doctor Joe confessed to Thomas 
that he had once been a great eye surgeon in New 
York, but that strong drink had broken his health, 
left him penniless and forced him to abandon the 
practice of his profession. Homeless, helpless and 
alone in the world, he fled to Labrador. Removed 
from temptation, and living the wholesome life of 
the wild, open country, he had lost his desire and 
taste for the liquor which had dragged him down. 
He had regained his health and his manhood and 
his steady hand and eye, and he asked that he 
might operate upon Jamie with the hope that he 
might restore the lad’s sight. 

Thomas gave permission. Doctor Joe per- 


154 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


formed an unusual and marvelous operation, and 
Jamie’s vision was restored. The operation was 
so successful, indeed, that Jamie’s eyes were now 
quite as keen as ever they were. 

And so it came about that the folk of the bay 
learned that Doctor Joe was indeed a real doctor, 
and a fine one, too; and Doctor Joe himself dis¬ 
covered that he had lost none of the skill that had 
once made him famous. 

This it was that led Doctor Joe to return to New 
York that he might resume the practice of his pro¬ 
fession. He had been able to make a living as a 
’trapper, but at best it was a precarious and un¬ 
certain living, and he felt the need to provide for 
his later years. And so one day he said good-bye 
to Thomas and Margaret and the boys, and sailed 
away from Fort Pelican on the mail boat. 

But at the end of six weeks Doctor Joe was back 
again. He explained that an investment that he 
had made in the old days of his prosperity, and 
supposed to have been a failure, had proved a 
great success, and had accumulated a fortune for 
him during the years he had been in Labrador. 
Through this investment he had enough to support 
himself in comfort, and even in luxury if he de¬ 
sired. There was no longer need that he practice 
surgery in order to earn a living and accumulate 
a competence for his old age. He was free to go 
where he pleased and live where he wished to live. 

He was restless and discontented in New York. 
The narrow streets and high buildings shut out the 
horizon and cramped him. There was not air to 
breathe freely. The crowds and the noise, the 


BILLY HAND GIVES AN ALARM 155 


glare and the tinsel jarred him. Either he had 
changed or New York had changed in the years 
that he had been away. He could find no content¬ 
ment there. The ostentation, the blatant show of 
wealth, the frivolity, the insincerity and the selfish¬ 
ness that he met on every hand disgusted him. On 
one side was luxury and appalling wastefulness, 
on the other direst poverty and distress. 

He had not been in New York a week until he 
found himself longing for the freedom of the wide, 
open spaces. Down on The Labrador a man was 
a man. In the great city he was a mere atom in 
the human mass. He felt like a homeless wanderer 
in New York. In the years that had passed he 
had been forgotten, and he would, if he remained, 
have to begin anew and build a place for himself. 

Down on The Labrador they needed him. He 
felt keenly the debt of gratitude that he owed 
Thomas Angus and the other good people of Es¬ 
kimo Bay through whose generous hospitality and 
kindness and sympathy he had been restored to 
health and manhood. There were others to do the 
work that he might do in the city. There was no 
physician or surgeon in Eskimo Bay, and no one 
upon whom the people could call to care for their 
physical welfare in case of need. Jamie Angus 
would have been blind for life had he not been 
‘there to operate upon the lad’s eyes at the right 
time. He felt that God had guided him there, and 
had shown him that he could be more helpful there 
than anywhere else in the world, and it was his 
duty to remain there. 

He confessed also that he missed the quiet, 


156 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 

gentle home life of the cabins, and the affectionate 
regard and sincere friendship of neighbours. The 
call of the wilderness, the rugged coast and the 
wholesome free life was irresistible. And so, one 
day he packed up his belongings and sailed back 
to The Labrador. 

“ That’s the way I saw it, Thomas,” said he, 
<e and I’ve come back to stay. I’m going to give 
my services to all that need me, without money 
and without price. When I decided to do this a 
feeling of vast and profound contentment came to 
me. I’ll confess that I’m a bit selfish in returning, 
and I’m afraid you dear, good people here will be 
called upon to give me a good deal more than I 
can ever give you in return, just as you always 
have been doing in the past.” 

It was a year, now, since Doctor Joe’s return. 
Winter and summer he had answered every call 
'to visit the sick. And he had not forgotten the 
boys who were not sick. He had heard while in 
New York a great deal about the splendid things 
Boy Scouts were doing, and one of his first acts 
upon returning to the bay was to organize the lads 
into a troop of boy scouts. This troop was known 
as Troop One of The Labrador. 

Of course David and Andy Angus were his ear¬ 
liest recruits, and David, now eighteen, had since 
been appointed assistant scoutmaster. Peter Sparks, 
of Let-In-Cove, a big, brawny lad of seventeen, was 
patrol leader, while the other members were Peter’s 
brother Lige, Seth Muggs of Tuggle Bight, Oba- 
diah Button and Micah Dunk of Snug Cove, and 
lastly Jamie Angus, who had just passed his 


BILLY HAND GIVES AN ALARM 157 


twelfth birthday. This winter Micah Dunk was 
trapping in the wilderness with Thomas. 

It was a small troop, to be sure, but an active 
and enthusiastic one, and the boys, bred to the life, 
were experts in the open. They knew the wilder¬ 
ness like a book. They knew the tracks and the 
habits of the animals. They could call the birds 
by name. Not many species of trees grew here, 
but the scouts knew every one of them. Even 
: Jamie could build a shelter and cook nearly any 
sort of a meal over the camp fire. And they had 
always known boats and could tie knots and throw 
hitches like sailors. 

Doctor Joe was proud of his troop, as well he 
might have been, and whenever there was an op¬ 
portunity he gathered them together for work or 
play. This was not often, for they were widely 
scattered. But each fellow for himself or working 
in pairs they were constantly doing good turns for 
their neighbours. 

They acted as messengers to summon Doctor Joe 
when he was needed in sickness, and they served 
as his assistants. He trained them particularly to 
render first aid to the injured, and often enough 
there was need for this. When the men of the bay 
were in the wilderness trapping, and the women 
and little ones were alone, as often happened in 
winter, they made snowshoe trips of ten or fifteen 
or even twenty miles to learn how those thus alone 
fared, and would sometimes take a treat of game 
'they had killed, and always do some chores about 
Ihat the women could not do. There was always 
a chance to lend a hand at this or that. 


158 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


This winter, as we have seen, Doctor Joe was 
v to make his home with the Anguses, at The Jng. 
Thomas had invited him to do so. 
k “ ’Twill be a bit lonely for you bidin’ over at 
Break Cove between your cruisin’ trips,” suggested 
.Thomas. “ You’d be findin’ The Jug livelier, and 
-I’d feel better if I were knowin’ you’d come over 
to The Jug to bide whilst I’m away to my trap- 
pin’ path. David’ll be sleepin’ out in his tilts 
three nights a week whatever, and if you’d be stop- 
pin’ at The Jug when you’re not away cruisin’ 
you could have an eye to things, and ’twould be 
a wonderful lot o’ company for Margaret and the 
lads.” 

“ You will be bidin’ with us now, won’t you, 
sir?” Urged Jamie, eagerly. 

“ Oh, now, but ’twill be wonderful fine, and you 
does, sir! ” Margaret broke in, her face reflecting 
her pleasure in the anticipation. 

“ IIow can I refuse! ” laughed Doctor Joe. “ It 
does get a bit lonesome over at Break Cove with 
no one for a chap to talk to but himself, and I find 
myself pretty tiresome company sometimes. If I 
didn’t come now, after your invitation, I’d be 
thinking of Margaret’s fine bread, and baked part¬ 
ridges, and stewed rabbit every time I sat down to 
eat the poor things I’d cook myself, and the com¬ 
parison would make me so unhappy I’d be coming 
over at unexpected times and pretty often anyhow, 
so I think I’ll have to accept your invitation. No¬ 
body cooks quite as well as Margaret. No, I can’t 
refuse such an invitation to enjoy good company 
and good cooking. I’ll come.” 


BILLY HAND GIVES AN ALARM 159 


“ Em so glad! And Fm glad yon likes my 
cookin’, too. I’ll cook things the way you likes 
lin, sir,” and Margaret’s cheeks flushed with 
pleasure. 

“ But I’ll only come on one condition,” said 
Doctor Joe, seriously, “ that you permit me to buy 
at least half of the winter provisions for the 
house.” 

Thomas protested, but Doctor Joe would have 
it no other way, and so it was finally settled. 

David had set up his traps at the end of Octo¬ 
ber, and Andy had been making the rounds with 
him while he waited for the bay to freeze and Doc¬ 
tor Joe to set out upon his first sledge journey. 
In the meantime, Doctor Joe and Jamie had made 
everything snug about the cabin for the winter, 
and were each day hunting grouse and attending 
to Jamie’s rabbit snares. 

It was after dinner on a Sunday afternoon. 
The dishes had been cleared away, and Margaret 
had tidied everything up. David and Andy had 
come in the evening before from the third week’s 
round of David’s traps. Jamie had asked Doctor 
Joe for a story, and they had all settled around 
the big wood stove for a pleasant afternoon when 
David, glancing out of the window, exclaimed: 

“ There’s a boat! ’Tis Peter and Lige Sparks, 
and the storekeeper from the lumber camps.” 

Everyone except Margaret hastened out and 
down to the jetty to meet and welcome the visitors, 
as their boat pulled alongside the jetty and made 
fast. 

“ I’m wonderful glad to see you,” greeted 


160 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


David, as the three climbed out upon the jetty. 

Come right up to the house and have a cup o’ 
hot tea.” 

“ We’re cornin’ after you and Doctor Joe and 
Andy,” announced Peter, a big, square-shouldered 
fellow, while everyone shook hands. “ They’s been 
somethin’ happenin’ to Indian Jake and young Mr. 
MacLean. They’re not cornin’ back yet from the 
height o’ land trip.” 

“ Somethin’s happened to Jim MacLean all 
right,” broke in Billy Hand. u I guess it’s about 
what I told him would happen. Indian Jake’s up 
and knifed him, like he did his father, and then 
cut stick. That’s him. He’s a bad un.” 

“ What leads you to think Indian Jake knifed 
him ? ” asked Doctor Joe, as they walked up to 
the cabin. 

“ Natural expectation. He’s a bad un,” said 
Billy positively. “ He’s a bad un! That’s him! ” 

“ Indian Jake never knifed anybody, sir,” ob¬ 
jected David. “ ’Tis somethin’ else been hap¬ 
penin’ to un.” 

“ Indian Jake’s a wonderful kind man, sir,” 
broke in Jamie with a show of indignation. 
“ He d never be hurtin’ Mr. MacLean, whatever.” 

“ No, sir, he’d never hurt he, sir,” echoed Andy, 
joining in defence of their friend. 

“ Step right in, sir,” invited David, opening the 
cabin door. 

“ It’s quite possible one of them has been in¬ 
jured,” suggested Doctor Joe, when they were 
within and the visitors were removing their adi- 
keys. “ Has any one gone to search for them ? ” 


BILLY HAND GIVES AN ALARM 161 


“ Nobody to go,” said Billy, seating himself. 
“ That’s what we come here for. Leastways no¬ 
body that would know where to hunt for ’em. I’m 
willin’ to go, but my liver is pretty bad most of 
the time. There’s nobody around the mill but 
some greenhorns Dawes brought in last summer. 
McCarthy and all the old men have been sent up 
to Number Three camp, where I can’t see ’em. 
Dawes sent ’em up there a purpose. I spoke to 
Dawes about sendin’ some one to look for Jim, and 
he said he guessed Indian Jake knew how to take 
care of himself, and he couldn’t spare any men 
to go on a fool hunt, and when Indian Jake and 
Jim got ready to come out they’d come.” 

“ Set in, sir, and have some tea,” David invited. 
“ Margaret’s got un ready.” 

“ Did you send word to McCarthy or any of the 
old men?” asked Doctor Joe, as Billy and Peter 
and Lige drew up to the table in response to 
David’s invitation. u McCarthy seems like a 
pretty fine chap.” 

“ No, I didn’t, because I knew Dawes wouldn’t 
let ’em out. I just went over last night to LelrIn- 
Cove, which ain’t far, and saw the Sparks boys 
here, knowin’ they’re your boy scouts and that they 
know the country here better’n any of us fellers 
in the loggin’ camp does. They said we’d better 
come for you, and so here we be. If anybody’ll 
show me the way I’ll throw up my job in the store 
and go myself. Even if my liver is bad I c’n 
travel pretty well on snowshoes. I’ve lived in a 
loggin’ camp here and there most all my life, and 
I ought to know how. It’s just my liver kinder 


162 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


holds me back all the time from doin’ things I 
might be doin’ but can’t do ’em easy.” 

“ They were going up the Kenamou River,” sug¬ 
gested David. “ Indian Jake told me ’twere to the 
height of land.” 

“ Something has surely happened,” said Doctor 
Joe. “ Indian Jake would never have been caught 
in the country unprepared when the freeze-up came 
if everything was right with them. I take it for 
granted they had no snowshoes ? ” 

“ No, they didn’t have snowshoes,” Billy ex¬ 
plained between mouthfuls of stewed rabbit. 
“ They was expectin’ to be out ahead of the snow. 
Say, this rabbit is fine. I never et any better.” 

“ Well, scouts,” said Doctor Joe, “ here’s a real 
job for us. We’ve got to go in and look for those 
men, and the sooner we get off the better. Even 
if the lumbermen could go, we can do it better 
than they. It’s our business, and we’re trained 
for it. 

“ David, you and Andy get your outfits ready 
for light and fast traveling. We’ll go right back 
in the boat and run in at Tuggle Bight and Snug 
Cove on the way and pick up Seth Muggs and Oba- 
diah Button. Peter, you and Lige better go over 
home as soon as we get across the bay and get your 
outfits ready. It’ll be dark before we get fixed up, 
but we’ll be ready to start as soon as we can see in 
the morning.” 

“Will I be goin’ too?” asked Jamie, ex¬ 
pectantly. 

“ Your legs are a bit short for fast and hard 
traveling yet,” said Doctor Joe. “ You’ll be doing 


BILLY HAND GIVES AN ALARM 163 


good scouting by staying here with Margaret. It 
would never do to leave her all alone.” 

“ All right, sir,” agreed Jamie cheerfully, 
though it was a disappointment to him to be 
denied a part in the expedition. “ I’ll be bidin’ 
home, an’ you thinks ’tis best.” 

“ I’m thinkin’ now,” said David, “ we better be 
takin’ flatsleds. I’ll be takin’ one over in the boat, 
and Peter and Lige can bring one when they go 
home for their outfits. You and Peter and me 
better go ahead with one, not packin’ heavy, so 
we’ll be travelin’ fast. Andy and Lige and Seth 
and Obadiah can carry more grub and extra outfit 
of some clothes and sleepin’ bags. ’Tis likely In¬ 
dian Jake and Mr. MacLean has no warm clothes 
with un. And I’m thinkin’ now maybe Seth or 
Obadiah better bring a flatsled too, and then the 
load’ll be lighter on each than if ’twere all packed 
on one.” 

“ Pine! ” exclaimed Doctor Joe. “ Your idea is 
a good one. Then we three will travel fast with 
our lighter loads and get to the men sooner, if we 
are to find them, and the others follow more slowly 
with their heavier loads as a support.” 

“ Aye, sir, that’s what I thinks,” said David. 

“ I’m afraid one of the men has been badly in¬ 
jured, and the other is probably standing by him,” 
suggested Doctor Joe. “ It may be that we shall 
have to haul an injured man out on one of the 
toboggans, so that makes it more necessary to have 
three.” 

“ Well,” remarked Billy, with a satisfied air, 
pushing back from the table as David and Andy 


164 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


busied themselves assembling their outfit, “ I feel 
better. That’s better cookin’ than we get in the 
camp.” 

“ Yes,” agreed Doctor Joe, “ there’s no better 
cook in this country than Margaret. We’ll be 
going as soon as the lads are packed up, but before 
we go I would like to hear about that liver trouble 
you complained of, Billy.” 

He proceeded to ask Billy questions. Then he 
put him through a searching examination, and 
finally, looking Billy in the eye, asked: 

“ Billy, what have you been doing for this liver 
trouble ? ” 

“ I’ve been takin’ Dr. Kurem’s Liver Believer 
reg’lar,” answered Billy anxiously. 

“ It won’t cure you,” and Doctor Joe shook his 
head seriously. “ It won’t reach your case at all. 
You had other trouble of some sort before your 
liver trouble began. What was it ? ” 

“ My kidneys,” confessed Billy, now on the 
verge of panic. “ Is my liver so bad it can’t be 
cured, Doctor ? ” 

“ I thought you had other trouble! I thought 
so! ” Ignoring Billy’s question, Doctor Joe shook 
his head gravely. “ And before your kidneys you 
had other trouble ? ” 

“ My heart,” gulped Billy. 

Doctor Joe nodded his head as though he under¬ 
stood perfectly, and with a twinkle in his eye arose 
and went to the cupboard, where he surreptitiously 
put some sugar in a bottle, added enough quinine 
to give the mixture a decidedly bitter taste, but not 
enough to rob it of its harmless qualities, filled the 



1 ‘ JAMIE ’LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU, MARGARET, AND DON ’T GET 

LONESOME . 1 7 











BILLY HAND GIVES AN ALARM 165 


bottle with water, and shaking it well returned 
with it to Billy. 

“ Here, Billy,” he advised, “ take a tablespoon¬ 
ful of this three times a day after meals. Your 
kidneys and heart, I believe, are now perfectly 
sound, and this will cure your liver trouble. I can 
guarantee that your liver will be as sound as any 
man’s in Labrador before you’ve finished the 
bottle.” 

“And quit takin’ Doctor Kurem’s Liver Be¬ 
liever ? ” asked Billy, regretfully. “ I’ve got six 
bottles of it on hand, and it’ll all be wasted if I 
don’t take it up. Won’t it help out some?” 

“ It won’t help you in the least. Certainly do 
not take it,” said Doctor Joe emphatically. “ It 
isn’t suited to your case at all.” 

“ How about my eat in’ ? ” suggested Billy. 
“ I’ve been dietin’ some accordin’ to directions.” 

“Eat anything the cook sets before you,” ad¬ 
vised Doctor Joe. “ It won’t hurt you in the least. 
It’ll do you good.” 

“ That’s fine now,” said Billy with manifest 
pleasure. “Here I’ve been turnin’ down dough¬ 
nuts, and pies, and other things I like.” 

“ Don’t turn them down! Don’t by any 
means! ” exclaimed Doctor Joe with concern. 
“ You should eat doughnuts and pie in modera¬ 
tion. Your case, Billy, is one of imaginitis of the 
liver. You take the medicine as directed, and re¬ 
member my guarantee that it will positively cure 
you. There is more than enough in that bottle to 
cure you.” 

y “ I’ll take some now ? ” 


166 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


“ Certainly, by all means.” 

Billy took a dose and made a wry face. 

“ Kinder bitter,” be commented. “ The Liver 
Reliever was syrupy and nice to take.” 

“ That was one trouble with it,” said Doctor Joe 
impressively. “Not what your case demands at 
all, not at all. Your liver needs this bitter tonic, 
and not a syrupy medicine.” 

“ I think I’m feelin’ better already,” declared 
Billy. “ I feel the medicine all the way down.” 

Doctor Joe had drawn on his adikey as he talked. 
The boys were ready, and Billy, with a new lease 
upon life, drew his adikey over his rotund figure. 

“ Jamie’ll take good care of you, Margaret, and 
don’t get lonesome!” Doctor Joe called cheerily 
as he donned his snowshoes at the door and fol¬ 
lowed the others to the boat. 


XVII 

TROOP ONE MAKES A RESCUE 


D AVID led the way. He was a better trav¬ 
eler in the wilderness than Doctor Joe, 
and a better pacemaker; and Peter, in the 
rear, hauled the toboggan, or flatsled, as they called 
it, upon the trail beaten down by the snowshoes of 
David and Doctor Joe. 

At the end of an hour David and Peter changed 
places, and David hauled the flatsled, and thus all 
day they took turns about that neither should be¬ 
come over weary with his task of trail breaking 
or hauling. Not once did they pause to rest, save 
at midday when they made a half-hour halt to boil 
the kettle and hurriedly eat a bite. None of them 
knew what grim tragedy might lie before them, 
but all felt that the greatest possible haste must be 
made. They wasted no breath in words, but bent 
every muscle to the task, advancing with the long, 
sweeping stride of the woodsman. None of them 
had ever before been in the valley of the Kenamou, 
but it was a narrow valley, and with the frozen 
river as their guide there was no possibility that 
they would go astray. 

None of them attempted to guess what manner 
of accident or misfortune had overtaken the men 
to whose rescue they were going, but each felt that 
something unusual had happened to detain them. 
167 


168 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


A gun might have exploded and wounded one of 
them, a leg might have been broken, or any one of 
a hundred accidents might have occurred. They 
knew that nothing but some accident or serious 
misadventure could have prevented their return in 
advance of the heavy snows and the freezing of the 
river. There was the possibility that the canoe had 
been wrecked in the rapids, and both men drowned, 
and they knew that, had this come to pass, there 
was little probability that they would ever find 
them or a trace of them. They knew the depths 
of misery that those black forests and windswept 
wastes, up beyond the mountain pass through which 
the Kenamou Eiver forced its way, held for the 
unprepared, and they knew that these men were 
unprepared. That Indian Jake had deserted Jim 
MacLean, or that the two had separated and Jim 
had been left to face the wilderness trail alone, oc¬ 
curred to none of them. Men of that land stand 
by each other, and such a contingency was too im¬ 
probable to be given even a passing thought. 

That day they advanced thirty miles up the val¬ 
ley of the Kenamou, and only the early falling 
darkness halted them. The treacherous character 
of the ice prevented them traveling upon the river, 
and the trail along shore was rough and rugged, 
often clogged with underbrush or boulders. The 
following day an equal distance was laid behind 
them. It was near sunset on the third day when 
David raised his nose and sniffed the air. 

“ I smells smoke,” he announced. “ See if you 
can’t smell un.” 

Peter sniffed and Doctor Joe sniffed. 


TROOP ONE MAKES A RESCUE 169 


“ Not a whiff,” declared Doctor Joe. “ Your 
imagination is active, David. There’s no smoke.” 

“ I smells un, sir,” Peter declared in verification 
of David. 

They all put their noses up and drew in the air. 

“ I smells un wonderful plain, sir,” said Peter. 
“ Can’t you smell un now ? ” 

“No, not a whiff, but if both you chaps smell 
smoke there’s surely smoke to smell,” Doctor Joe 
acknowledged. “ Your noses are a bit keener than 
mine for forest smells. From which direction does 
it come ? ” 

“ From the s’uth’ard, sir,” said David with un¬ 
concealed excitement. “ The wind’s down the 
river, and the smoke’s above us. She’s right 
handy, sir. The wind’s too light to drive un far.” 

Without another word David forged forward at 
a half trot, with Doctor Joe and Peter at his heels. 
They had gone a half mile when Doctor Joe an¬ 
nounced : 

“ I smell it now. You chaps were right, as you 
usually are. Fire your rifle, David, to let them 
know we’re coming.” 

David fired three shots, and with accelerated 
speed hurried on. Another half mile, and David, 
who was in advance, shouted: 

“ I sees un! There’s Indian Jake’s tent! The 
smoke’s cornin’ from the stove pipe.” 

“ Thank God! ” exclaimed Doctor Joe. “They’re 
safe and in camp. But they’ll be glad to see us.” 

David gave a great whoop, to announce their 
coming, and Peter and Doctor Joe joined him in 
another. No one appeared, and as they hurried 


170 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


toward the tent they shouted again. Still there 
was no response. 

“ They’s no footin’ anywhere about,” David an¬ 
nounced, as they approached. “ That’s wonderful 
queer, now.” 

He parted the front flaps of the tent, and the 
three peered in. A creature in the image of a 
man was standing in the rear swaying unsteadily 
on wabbly legs. It seemed incredible that the 
emaciated human wreck before them could be alive. 
It was a skeleton clad in rags hanging loosely upon 
the bony frame. Above a straggly beard of some 
weeks’ growth appeared two deep-sunken eyes. 
The skin, drawn tightly over cheek bones and fore¬ 
head, tanned and dried and smoked by wind and 
sun and camp fire, had the texture and appearance 
of that of a mummy. Long, unkempt hair, hung 
half way to the shoulders. The hands were shriv¬ 
elled to talons. The feet were covered only by 
socks, stained and clotted with blood. 

David did not recognize the apparition as the 
big, broad-shouldered, athletic Jim MacLean whom 
he had met on the deck of the Gray Goose. But 
here was Indian Jake’s tent and tent stove. This 
was a stranger in possession of them, and he did 
not remotely connect this stranger with either of 
the men they were looking for, or, indeed, with 
any one he had ever known. 

Jim, on his part, saw his visitors through a haze. 
It was as though a veil was hanging between them 
and himself, and for several minutes he gazed at 
them trying to distinguish their features through 
the veil, and trying to recall himself to a world in 


TROOP ONE MAKES A RESCUE 171 


which he had once lived in what appeared to him 
another existence. Slowly his dulled vision out¬ 
lined David’s face and his dulled brain was stimu¬ 
lated to recognition. He spoke the name, as one 
speaking to himself: 

“ David Angus, the pilot.” 

“ Aye,” said David, stepping forward and grasp¬ 
ing Jim’s shriveled, bony hand, “I’m David 
Angus, but I’m not knowin’ you, sir. Here’s Doc¬ 
tor Joe and Peter Sparks along with me.” 

“ I’m Jim MacLean. I met you on the ship.” 

The human touch of David’s hand went through 
Jim like an electric spark. It recalled him to 
realities and brought back his weary, wavering 
spirit to earth, though even yet he could scarce 
credit his senses. He half expected that in a mo¬ 
ment the men would prove to be wraiths and dis¬ 
solve from view. He feared they were as unreal 
as had been the shouting men in the forest whom 
he had answered, but who never came to him. 

“ Be you bidin’ here in the tent alone ? ” asked 
David. “Where’s Injun Jake?” 

“ Gone! Gone! He went away and left me 
long ago,” answered Jim. “A long, long time 
ago. He went away and left me alone to perish.” 

“Were anything happenin’ to he?” asked 
David. 

“ No, he was in camp at night, and when I woke 
up in the morning he was gone with the canoe. He 
never came back and I never saw him again,” said 
Jim. 

“ We’ll ask no questions now,” said Doctor Joe 
quietly, as he assisted Jim to be seated. “David, 


172 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


stir up that fire in the stove and put over a kettle 
of water for tea and another for cooking. Peter, 
unpack the flatsled and get some of those partridges 
ready that David shot this morning. We must 
make some broth for Mr. MacLean at once. When 
you have the fire going and the water over, David, 
help Peter to dress the partridges. I’ll bring in 
the other things.” 

“ Are you really men come to help me or are 
you angels from Heaven?” asked Jim. “Mother 
told me to take care of myself and I would be all 
right. Did she send you ? ” 

“Who?” asked Doctor Joe. 

“My mother,” answered Jim simply. “She 
died when I was a boy, but she came back here to 
talk to me.” 

“ Yes, yes, I understand,” Doctor Joe said sooth¬ 
ingly. “We came from the bay to look for you 
and help you. We’re men of the bay. We’ll take 
care of you now. You’ll be all right. Sit there 
and rest. We’ll have something ready for you to 
eat in a jiffy. Don’t talk, but rest.” 

Every one hurried. Tea was soon ready, and 
Doctor Joe gave a steaming cup to Jim to sip, fol¬ 
lowed by a small piece of toasted bread to eat, and 
presently some hot broth. 

“ Not much solid food at first,” said Doctor Joe. 
“ Drink the broth, and after awhile you may have 
some more, and another small piece of toast.” 

Jim, when he had taken the nourishment per¬ 
mitted, wished to talk a great deal, but Doctor Joe 
would have none of it. He insisted upon his pa¬ 
tient lying down quietly, and when he and David 


/TROOP ONE MAKES A RESCUE 173 


and Peter had eaten they set up Doctor Joe’s more 
commodious and better tent alongside the other. A 
thick covering of boughs was laid as a floor, and 
over the houghs a waterproof ground cloth was 
spread for a carpet, and upon this a bed of 
blankets. 

A fire had been lighted in David’s tent stove, 
the tent was warm and Jim was removed to the 
more comfortable quarters. David and Peter vol¬ 
unteered to sleep in Indian Jake’s tent, while Doc¬ 
tor Joe kept Jim company in the other. 

While Peter held a candle, and David with a 
basin of warm water ready for use, assisted in re¬ 
moving Jim’s socks, Doctor Joe examined Jim’s 
feet, and cleansed the wounds. 

“ A bad frost burn,” said Doctor Joe as he 
dressed the wounds. “ The skin is pretty well 
rubbed off of them. You had grit, young man, to 
keep moving on those feet. You’ll have to keep 
off of them for the present, but we’ll soon have 
them as useful as ever they were. It’ll give you 
a chance to loaf and rest while you’re building up 
your strength.” 

Jim was sick that night. The introduction of 
even the small amount of tea and toast and broth 
into the contracted stomach was more than it could 
accept without protest. But the following morn¬ 
ing found him decidedly better. His brain had 
cleared, his old cheerfulness had returned, and 
there was already developing a desire to eat more 
than Doctor Joe thought would be well for him. 

His feet bandaged and encased in fresh duffle 
slippers and a pair of Doctor Joe’s big, roomy 


174 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


buckskin moccasins, Jim declared tbat he was as 
comfortable as any man could be, and Doctor Joe 
removed the restraint upon his talking. 

When breakfast was eaten Jim narrated in 
minute detail the story of his experiences. He 
told of the shooting of the wolf and his accusation 
of Indian Jake; how Indian Jake had silently 
stolen out of camp without a word the following 
morning, never to return; how he had found the 
wallet containing important memoranda; the kill¬ 
ing of the caribou; the vain waiting for Indian 
Jake’s return; the first blizzard; his struggle to 
reach the bay; and the last days of desperate effort 
to keep life in his body in spite of an overpowering 
desire to pass into a sleep that would be eternal. 

“ To die then would have been like going to sleep 
when a fellow is about as tired as he can be,” said 
Jim. “ The thought of death didn’t have a terror. 
I thought of it just as I’d think of lying down at 
night to go to sleep.” 

“ The Almighty provides for that when He takes 
us,” said Doctor Joe reverently. “ He prepares us 
for death, and when our time comes to go He takes 
from it all the fear we feel for it when we’re in 
normal health.” 

“ I know after my experience that you’re right,” 
agreed Jim. 

They all examined closely the wallet when Jim 
brought it forth. 

“ That was never exposed to a winter’s and a 
summer’s weathering,” Jim declared. “ It was 
never wet. Neither were the papers. Before In- 


TROOP ONE MAKES A RESCUE 175 


dian Jake deserted me that morning he placed it 
there for me to find.” 

“ It was surely never exposed to weather,” 
agreed Doctor Joe, “ and there’s no other explana¬ 
tion than yours—that Indian Jake placed it there. 
But I cannot understand his motive.” 

“Why,” said Jim, “that seems plain to me. 
He took me at my word. I told him to either ex¬ 
plain to me satisfactorily how he got the money, 
or to make a confession that he robbed Dad, and 
clear his conscience on the ground where he did the 
deed. This wallet was his confession. He con¬ 
fessed by leaving it, and then ran away.” 

“ I’m not believin’ Injun Jake robbed or hurt 
your father, sir,” David protested, still loyal to 
his friend in spite of nearly conclusive evidence 
against him. “ I’m not sayin’ they’s not some¬ 
thin’ strange about un, leavin’ the wallet and 
leavin’ her there that way. But I knows Injun 
Jake, and hed never rob or hurt anybody, what - 
ever.” 

“ There ’tis, Davy,” Peter broke in. “ The’s no 
doubtin’ Injun Jake had un and left un there for 
Mr. MacLean here to find, and how’d he get un if 
he didn’t steal un? Mr. MacLean’s father never 
gave un to he. He stole un, and he took the money 
out of un that were Mr. MacLean’s father’s, and 
he were usin’ the money to pay his debt to the 
Company.” 

“ I’m not knowin’ how ’twere,” insisted David. 
“But Injun Jake never takes un wrongfully. 
What be you thinkin’ about un now, Doctor Joe?” 

“ It’s a mystery,” said Doctor Joe. “ I don’t 


176 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


want to think that Indian Jake did anything 
wrong, but I must admit that it looks bad for him. 
I’m afraid our confidence in him has been mis¬ 
placed, David.” 

That afternoon the reserves under Andy’s lead¬ 
ership appeared with the two toboggans loaded 
with supplies, sufficient to keep the party in com¬ 
fort until Doctor Joe should deem it wise for Jim 
to undertake the journey back. 

Andy and his party pitched their tent, and when 
they had made it comfortable a conference was 
held in Doctor Joe’s tent. David expressed his be¬ 
lief that some accident had happened to Indian 
Jake, and Andy was as firm in his confidence 
in the integrity of the half-breed as was David. 
David suggested that search should be made for 
Indian Jake, but no one knew the direction he had 
taken after leaving Jim at the lake, and it was de¬ 
cided, upon consideration, that the probabilities of 
finding him were too remote. 

“ If he is alive,” said Doctor Joe, “ he knows 
how to take care of himself. If he is not, there 
is not one chance in a thousand that you could 
locate him.” 

“ I’m thinkin’ you’re right,” admitted David. 

Jim recuperated rapidly, and two days later 
Doctor Joe announced that his patient was well 
enough and strong enough for the return journey 
to the bay. 

“ We’re likely to have snow at any time, and it 
will make the traveling harder,” said Doctor Joe. 
“We can travel by easy stages so as not to tire 
you. You will be packed in one of the sleeping 


TROOP ONE MAKES A RESCUE 177 


bags and lasted on a fiatsled, and we’ll haul you 
out, Mr. MacLean.” 

“ Pretty soft for me,” Jim grinned. “ If I’m 
riding on a fiatsled I can stand it if you fellows 
can.” 

“ Not so soft as you think,” laughed Doctor Joe. 
u You’ll wish you were on snowshoes before we 
get through with you, but we’ll make it as com¬ 
fortable for you as we can.” 

“ All right,” said Jim, “ I’m game for it. I 
want to get out of here too badly to complain at 
any transportation.” 

As Doctor Joe predicted, the journey was any¬ 
thing but a pleasant experience for Jim. The 
weather was searchingly cold when they set out the 
following morning, and he chafed in his cramped 
position, and the journey seemed endless to him. 

When on the evening of the fifth day the wilder¬ 
ness voyageurs drew up before the lighted store at 
the lumber mill Jim’s heart swelled with the joy 
of the new life to which he had returned. There 
was a fight before him, and he was anxious to get 
into it. McCarthy must be restored to his right¬ 
ful position. 

u Now,” said he to himself, u we’ll see what’s 
to happen, and there’s going to be a-plenty happen 
as soon as my feet will let me get around.” 


XVIII 

BACK FROM THE DOOR OF DEATH 


B ILLY was alone in the store. He heard 
the voices outside, and swinging open the 
door, stood silhouetted against the glare of 
light within. 

“Hello, Billy!” Jim called. 

“ Is that you, Jim MacLean? ” answered Billy, 
with a note of excitement in his voice, as he hur¬ 
ried out to the flatsled where Doctor Joe and 
David were in the act of unlashing Jim. 

“ It is,” laughed Jim, “ and I’m mighty glad it 
isn’t just my remains. A part of me is here any¬ 
how. It’s good to get hack, Billy! ” 

“Well, by gum!” exclaimed Billy, grasping 
Jim’s hand. “ I never expected to set eyes on you 
again! What’s happened to you, Jim?” 

“ Oh, I’ve been dieting against my will. I 
frosted my feet a little, too, and the Doctor won’t 
let me use them for the present.” 

“ You ain’t very bad, be you ? ” asked Billy with 
much concern. “ You ain’t goin’ to lose your feet, 
be you ? ” 

“He’ll soon be all right,” said Doctor Joe. 
“ You can’t kill a chap with just starving and 
freezing when he’s got the kind of grit Jim has. 
He’s just a little the worse for his bout with the 
country.” 


178 


BACK FROM THE DOOR OF DEATH 179 


“ Come right straight in the store, all of you,” 
directed Billy, leading the way. 

“My God!” exclaimed Billy, as Doctor Joe 
and David sat Jim in a chair, and with the hood 
of his adikey thrown back, the light fell upon his 
emaciated face and revealed his gaunt figure. 
“This ain’t Jim MacLean! This ain’t you, Jim, 
is it now ? ” 

“ Yes,” grinned Jim, “ I’ll vouch for my iden¬ 
tity. The country back here in the mountains 
treated me a bit roughly, and I suppose I’ve come 
back looking like a pretty tough character. I 
haven’t had a look into a mirror lately. But as 
tough as I look, I’m harmless, Billy.” 

“ Harmless as a kitten,” laughed Doctor Joe. 
“ Billy should have seen you as you looked when 
we found you. You’ve developed into a pretty 
lively and respectable appearing chap since then.” 

“Jim! Jim! I can’t believe it’s you! I can’t 
believe it’s Jim MacLean come to this!” Billy’s 
voice nearly broke with emotion. 

“ A living example of the depths to which a man 
may fall,” grinned Jim. “ I’m famished, Billy, 
and I’m sure the Doctor and his scouts are hungry 
too. Can’t you dig up something to eat ? ” 

“ You look like you need some good eatin’.” 
Billy, who had been gazing at Jim in a half-dazed 
stare, was scarcely yet able to realize that this was 
the big, athletic Jim MacLean, who had left him 
in such good spirits so short a time before. “ You 
just set there and I’ll stir up the cook over in the 
cook house and fetch over some grub right off. 
Doctor Joe, you stay with Jim, and I’ll fetch some>* 


180 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


thin’ for you too. I guess you scouts better come 
with me, and the cook’ll fix you up in the cook 
house.” 

“ Just bring some bread and butter,” directed 
Doctor Joe. “ I’ll boil the kettle and broil some 
partridges we have, on your stove here, and when 
you bring the bread I’ll toast some of it. Mr. 
MacLean isn’t on full rations yet.” 

“Doctor, I’m as hungry as seven bears!” Jim 
plead. “Won’t you let me have a square meal 
to-night ? ” 

“And then have you suffering all night? You 
must be careful, young man.” Doctor Joe shook 
his head. 

“ Everything I eat hurts me anyhow. I may as 
well eat enough to make it worth while.” 

“ Toast and tea and a little broiled partridge! 
That’s the ultimatum! I’m quite stubborn,” 
laughed Doctor Joe. 

“ All right,” Jim agreed. “ But just wait till I 
can get around and be my own boss again! I’ll 
eat my weight in grub five times a day. I’ll de¬ 
vote myself to eating! It seems to me I’ll never 
be able to eat enough to satisfy me.” 

“ I’ll fetch the things,” said Billy. “ You other 
fellers come along with me now and grub up.” 

“ Oh, but it’s good to be back! ” sighed Jim, 
when Billy and the scouts had gone, and he and 
Doctor Joe were alone. 

“ Yes,” said Doctor Joe, putting the kettle on 
the stove, “ back from the grave. Perhaps you 
don’t realize it, but you wouldn’t have lived an¬ 
other day if we had failed to find you when we 


BACK FROM THE DOOR OF DEATH 181 


did. You should thank God for inspiring Billy 
to send us in.” 

“I do—I do thank God!” Jim acknowledged, 
reverently, while he watched Doctor Joe prepare 
the grouse for broiling. “ I thank Him a hundred 
times a day, and I thank Him in my prayers at 
night. It seems to me that I have been spared 
to do some work in the world. And I’m going to 
do it! I’ve been restored to life, and I’m going 
to do my best to make the life that has been given 
me a useful one in the world.” 

“Fine!” exclaimed Doctor Joe. “That’s an 
ideal that makes big men. We can’t all of us climb 
to the top, but we can climb a long way toward 
the top, if we aim for it and try for it, and keep 
trying.” 

Jim silently watched Doctor Joe preparing the 
grouse until presently the door opened and Billy 
appeared bearing two gigantic loaves of bread, a 
package of tea, a bowl of jam, a pie and some 
doughnuts. 

“ The cook made me bring the pie and dough¬ 
nuts and jam to you fellers,” explained Billy. 
“ It’s a prune pie, and he says it won’t hurt any¬ 
body.” 

“ Good for you and the cook, Billy,” acknowl¬ 
edged Doctor Joe. “ Our patient may have some 
of the jam and some of the filling from the pie, 
but none of the piecrust goes with it.” 

“ Thank you! ” It came from Jim’s heart. 
“That will be a treat! I’ve had no desserts or 
sweets since some marmalade Indian Jake took 
into the country, and that didn’t last long.” 


182 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


“ Why didn’t you fellers go into my livin’ quar¬ 
ters ? ” asked Billy. “ There’s a fire in there. 
Come along now. I’ll fix up the table so you can 
eat off’n it.” 

“ We didn’t know you had any other quarters,” 
said Doctor Joe. 

“ Bight in here,” and Billy opened a door lead¬ 
ing to the rear. “ I clean forgot to tell you about 
it, I was so took back by the way Jim looks.” 

Billy lighted a lamp, revealing a room about 
twelve by sixteen feet in size. A large oblong wood 
stove occupied the center. There was a cot bed at 
one end, a table covered with a red and white 
checked cloth, four easy chairs, home-made but 
comfortable, a home-made settee, evidently manu¬ 
factured by Billy himself, and spread upon the 
floor to serve as rugs were two caribou and five 
Eskimo dog skins. Upon a wall shelf several old 
magazines and a half-dozen books with lurid, wild- 
west cowboy titles were arranged. 

There was already a fire in the stove, and Billy 
renewed it with a fresh supply of wood from a box, 
while Doctor Joe carried Jim into the room and 
deposited him into one of the big chairs. 

“ This is my quarters,” explained Billy, closing 
the stove door. “ I fixed up some extra chairs for 
when Pat McCarthy and some of the fellers 
dropped in evenin’s to see me last winter. I ain’t 
had much company this year. I sleep on the cot.” 

“ This is cozy,” Jim commented. “ It surely is 
a comfortable place here, Billy.” 

“ I kinder fixed it up to be that way,” admitted 
Billy proudly. 


BACK FROM THE DOOR OF DEATH 183 


“ Better coals and less blaze in the store stove/’ 
suggested Doctor Joe. “ I’ll broil the birds out 
there. Perhaps you’ll toast some bread on the 
stove while I’m doing it, Billy? I suppose Jim 
here will be breaking loose if we don’t get some¬ 
thing before him to eat in a hurry.” 

“ All right, I’ll do the toastin’ and make the tea,” 
agreed Billy, “ and I’ll get the table sot.” 

In a little while Doctor Joe appeared with a tin 
plate loaded with nicely buttered broiled grouse. 
Billy had another plate piled high with toast, and 
had set the table for three with plates, cups, knives 
and forks, with the bowl of jam, the prune pie, 
and a dish of butter in the center. 

“ I’m goin’ to eat a snack with you,” said Billy, 
as they sat down. 

“ You see from the amount of grouse I broiled 
I prepared for it,” laughed Doctor Joe. “ We’re 
your guests to-night. Will you serve? ” 

“ I’ll pour the tea if you’ll hand around the 
grub,” suggested Billy. “ I’m afraid I’d give Jim 
more’n he ought to eat, I’m so plumb sorry for 
him.” 

“ Thank you,” agreed Doctor Joe. “ Jim would 
be likely to bamboozle you into indiscretion. We 
have to watch him.” 

“ Now I want to hear about the trip, Jim, and 
what happened. I’ve been waitin’ till we et to 
hear about it, and I’m kinder curious to hear what 
made you look like this, and where Indian Jake 
is,” Billy suggested when they had eaten and he 
had placed two large kettles of water on the stove 
to heat. “ Them kettles of water are for a bath 


184 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


for you, Jim,” lie explained. “I know you’re 
wantin’ a bath, and anyhow you sure look like you 
need one. I’m goin’ to cut your hair now and 
shave you, and you can just go ahead and talk 
while I’m doin’ it. Where’s Indian Jake ? ” 

“ He deserted me,” said Jim, as Billy tucked a 
towel under his chin. “ That’s what brought me 
into trouble. But I’d better tell you the whole 
story from the time we left here.” 

“ Deserted you!” exclaimed Billy. “ Well, I 
said he’d do somethin’. You’re lucky he didn’t 
knife you, Jim. But go ahead and tell me all that 
happened right from the start off.” 

With the towel tucked under Jim’s chin and an¬ 
other draped over his shoulders, Billy proceeded to 
snip at hair and beard with his scissors, while Jim 
told his story. Now and again Billy paused in 
his work to indignantly interject remarks, chiefly 
expressions of his opinion of Indian Jake’s char¬ 
acter. 

While Jim displayed the wallet, and permitted 
Billy to examine it, he made no reference to the 
contents of the memoranda it contained, other than 
exhibit the papers to Billy as evidence that they 
had never lain out in the rain. He had decided 
that he would see McCarthy and learn his attitude 
before revealing to Billy or any one else the fact 
that McCarthy had a partnership interest in the 
logging and mill operation. He believed that Billy 
was prone to talk too much. He might also let fall 
a word that would reach Hawes concerning the 
location of the cave. 

“ It was just like I said it would be,” reiterated 


BACK FROM THE DOOR OF DEATH 185 


Billy, as he stropped his razor preparatory to shav¬ 
ing Jim. “ That half-breed is a bad one. Now, 
Jim, you’ll have to quit talkin’ while I shave 
your face.” 

In due time Billy’s tonsorial effort was com¬ 
pleted to his satisfaction. He now brought forth 
a large galvanized iron washtub, and placed it near 
the stove. Retiring to the store, he presently re¬ 
appeared with a pair of new moleskin trousers and 
a blue flannel shirt, which he laid on a chair. 
Then, indicating the washtub, he announced: 

“ This here’s my bathtub. The water on the 
stove is bilin’. I’ll go fetch a towel and washcloth 
and soap, and a couple of buckets of cold water. 
There’s your trunk over there by my bed, and 
everything is in it just the way you left it when 
you cached it with me before you went on your 
trip. I guess you’ve got all the sox and under¬ 
clothes and things you need to have in that.” 

“ Thank you, Billy,” said Jim gratefully. “ A 
bath will just fix me up.” 

When Billy presently brought the cold water, 
he joined the boys, who had returned from the cook 
house, in the store, while Doctor Joe remained 
with Jim to assist him and care for his wounded 
feet. 

“ Now you’re lookin’ a little bit like yourself,” 
said Billy appraisingly, a half-hour later when 
Doctor Joe opened the door into the store and an¬ 
nounced that the bathing ceremony was completed. 
“ I ain’t sure, though, that I’d just be sure who 
you were if I met you anywheres else. Your as 
thin as a white cedar pole, and your clothes fit you 


186 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


about as snug as they would a cedar pole, but I 
guess you’ll fill ’em out when you’ve had a little 
time and some good eatin’.” 

“ If the Doctor will let me have enough to eat 
I’ll agree to fill out,” laughed Jim. 

u You’re going over to The Jug with David and 
Andy and me, and stay there until those feet are 
properly healed,” Doctor Joe announced. “ We’ll 
go in the morning. The bay is frozen, and Peter 
will take us over with his dogs, won’t you, Peter ? ” 

“ Aye,” agreed Peter, “ I’ll be takin’ you, sir.” 

“ The bay fastened over the day you fellers left 
here to look for Jim, and they say the footin’ is 
fine for dog travel, but,” suggested Billy, “ I 
kinder thought maybe Jim would stay here with 
me. Can’t he ? ” 

“ No,” Doctor Joe objected, “ you’re too tender¬ 
hearted. You’d be giving him too much to eat and 
things he shouldn’t eat. He should eat often and 
not much at a time. We’ll let Margaret look after 
that over at The Jug, and I must watch his feet 
to prevent infection. They’ll be all right and he’ll 
be free to eat as he pleases in a month.” 

“ I’m thinkin’ now, sir, and you don’t mind, 
that Lige and me’ll go over home to-night to be 
gettin’ things ready,” suggested Peter. “ We’ll be 
here with the dogs early in the marnin’.” 

“ That’s a good plan,” agreed Doctor Joe. 

When the two boys had said good night and 
passed out, Doctor Joe turned to Billy: 

“ How about your liver, Billy ? I haven’t heard 
you mention it this evening.” 

“ That medicine you gave me, Doctor, is just 


BACK FROM THE DOOR OF DEATH 18T 


the stuff/’ Billy answered enthusiastically. 
“ Every time I take it I feel the bitterness 
helpin’ me. I haven’t felt my liver once since I 
started in takin’ it, and I’m eatin’ everything the 
way you said to do. I’m just feelin’ fine all the 
time now, and as strong as a hoss.” 

“ I thought that would fix you! I was sure it* 
would!” Doctor Joe nodded his head wisely, 
after the manner of doctors everywhere. “ And 
now for rest. Jim is tired and we’re all tired.” 

Billy insisted upon Jim occupying his cot, and 
against Jim’s protest Doctor Joe supported Billy, 
who made his own bed upon the box couch when 
Doctor Joe declined it upon the ground that it 
would not accommodate his length, and he would 
be more comfortable in his sleeping bag on the 
floor with the boys. 

Before retiring Jim wrote a note to McCarthy, 
asking him to report at The Jug at the earliest 
possible date, and to bring his contract with him. 
Billy agreed to send the letter to McCarthy with 
the next trip of the tote team, which would be 
made two days later. 

Jim lay awake a long time that night making 
plans for his campaign. He determined that at all 
costs Dawes and his gang should be deposed, and 
McCarthy reinstated. This might mean war, and 
probably would, and it might result in destruction 
of property. But if Dawes were not deposed, Jag- 
ger would eventually involve the operation so 
deeply in debt that a forced sale would be neces¬ 
sary, and then Jagger would buy it in at his own 
figure. 


XIX 

THE WELCOME AT THE JUG 

T HERE were nine dogs in Peter’s team— 
nine great beasts, which, if found wan¬ 
dering in the forest or barrens, might 
easily have been mistaken for wolves, but for the 
fact that their tails curled up over their backs 
instead of hanging straight out behind, as the tail 
of the wolf does. But they had the great head 
and jowls, the small, straight, pointed ears, the 
powerful shoulders and fore legs, and the mane of 
the wild wolf. They howled like the wolf, which 
was their progenitor, and they bared their great 
evil fangs when they snarled. 

But Peter’s dogs were docile enough when he 
brought them to halt before the store door with an 
“ Ah! ” in sharp command, shortly after daylight, 
and standing over them with his thirty-five-foot- 
long walrushide whip, compelled them to lie down 
in harness until the sledge should be packed. 

Peter’s sledge, or komatik as it is called in this 
land where Eskimo implements sometimes retain 
their Eskimo names, was twelve feet long and two 
feet wide, with runners six inches high, each run¬ 
ner thick and strong and hewn out of a single piece 
of timber. The top of the sledge was composed 
of crosspieces each about four inches in width, 
which, with a quarter-inch space between them, 
188 


THE WELCOME AT THE JUG 


189 


were secured to the runner by sealskin thongs 
passing through holes bored in the crosspieces and 
through the upper side of the runners. The ends 
of the crosspieces extended a little beyond the run¬ 
ners on each side, the corners rounded and the ends 
notched on each side of both ends to permit the 
passing of a line around them to aid in lashing 
tiie load in place. The runners were shod with 
thin strips of whalebone polished to a glossy 
smoothness. Not a nail or screw was used in the 
construction of the komatik, for iron, contracting 
in the arctic cold of midwinter, would quickly have 
worked loose in travel over rough ice. 

Connecting the runners in front was a slack seal¬ 
skin thong. To the center of this was attached 
one end of another thong about eight feet in length, 
called the “ bridle.” At the free end of the bridle 
was a loop. Attached to the harness of each dog 
was a single individual trace, also of sealskin. 
The end of each dog’s trace was passed through 
the loop in the bridle and securely tied. 

The traces were of varying length, that of “ Cap¬ 
tain,” the leader, being the longest that he might 
keep a position in advance. The traces of the next 
two dogs were a little shorter, and those of each 
pair behind a little shorter than those of the pre¬ 
ceding pair, with the traces of the pair nearest 
the komatik shortest of all. Thus in traveling the 
team spread out in fan shape, according to the 
Eskimo method of harnessing dogs, which these 
men of The Labrador cling to to this day, prefer¬ 
ring it to the white man’s tandem method used in 
Alaska. 


190 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


Jim came out with the assistance of Doctor Joe 
and Billy to take his place on the sledge. He had 
never before seen dogs in harness, though he was 
familiar with illustrations of Alaskan teams trav¬ 
eling tandem. After greeting Peter, curiosity led 
him to ask an explanation. 

“ ’Tis the way everybody harnesses un,” said 
Peter. “ If a dog’s a hit lazy his trace hangs slack 
and I touches he up with the tip o’ the whip to 
make he spry. ’Tis wrong I’m thinkin’ for any 
o’ the dogs to loaf while the others pulls and leave 
the pullin’ to the others. We has no use for a 
dog that don’t pull his part.” 

“ Just as it is with a scout troop,” remarked 
Doctor Joe. “ It’s team work with every fellow 
doing his share of the pulling that makes things 
move. That’s the reason I’m so proud of my 
troop. I haven’t a slacker or a lazy one in it.” 

“ How’s the footin’ for the dogs ? ” asked David, 
who, with Andy’s assistance, was lashing the duf¬ 
fle in place on the komatik. 

“ Wonderful fine,” answered Peter. “ I never 
saw un better, except in the spring when we gets 
a freeze-up after the first mild.” 

On the rear end of the komatik Peter had lashed 
what he called a “ traveling box.” It had a bot¬ 
tom, a high back and low sides, and into this Jim 
was tucked and wrapped in blankets, with a cari¬ 
bou skin over his feet and legs. 

“We uses un, sir, when we takes the women 
cruisin’,” explained Peter. “ I were thinkin’ 
’twould be fine for you, not usin’ your feet yet.” 

“ Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” Jim ac- 


THE WELCOME AT THE JUG 191 

knowledged gratefully. “ You’re all too kind to 
me.” 

Lige Sparks, Obadiah Button and Seth Muggs 
were to return to their homes, and as they shook 
hands with the sledge party Jim again thanked 
them for their part in his rescue. 

“ ’Twere fine we were handy so we could do un, 
sir,” said Obadiah. 

“ Yes,” agreed Jim, “but people don’t always 
do the fine things they might do, especially when 
it calls for hardship or sacrifice on their part.” 

“ Break her loose, Peter, we’re ready,” directed 
Doctor Joe. 

The dogs were already on their feet, jumping in 
their traces and howling in their eagerness to be 
off. Peter seized the front of the komatik, pulled 
it smartly toward him, and shouted: 

“ Oo-isht! Oo-isht! ” 

The runners, which had been frozen to the snow, 
were released by Peter’s pull, and the dogs, at his 
call, started forward at a mad run, while Doctor 
Joe, David and Andy jumped upon the swaying 
sledge, and Peter, with a firm grasp upon the run¬ 
ners in front, and half running, half lying upon 
the komatik pulled it this way or pushed it that, to 
avoid obstructions, shouting at the same time: 

“ Ouk! Ouk! Ouk!” 

This meant “ turn to the right,” and Captain, 
leading at a gallop, swerved to the right and 
guided the pack out upon the smooth ice of the bay. 

Now upon their journey the dogs settled down 
to a sober trot, and David and Andy and Doctor 
Joe left the sledge, to lighten the load and to keep 


192 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


themselves warm running by the side. One or the 
other would ride now and again for a short dis¬ 
tance, while Peter, giving his attention to the dogs, 
sometimes rode and sometimes ran. Jim, confined 
to the traveling box on the sledge, wished that he, 
too, might join the others, for it is tedious and 
cold sitting for long upon a sledge. 

The sky was blue, the air keen and cold, but 
clear as crystal. It was a stimulant, and Jim’s 
heart beat high with the adventure and the joy of 
life. Presently the sun arose over the snow-clad 
Mealy Mountains and lighted the ice field and 
the distant forest with its glorious brilliance. 
Grim and cold as it was, the world was beautiful, 
and Jim breathed a prayer of thanks that he had 
been spared to live and work in it and enjoy its 
beauty. It seemed to him that life had never held 
so much of pleasure and of promise as now. It 
is always so with one brought back to life who has 
looked over the brink into eternity, as Jim had 
looked. 

Three hours brought them to the entrance to The 
Jug. As the dogs rounded the point that protected 
the little harbour, and the cabin fell into view, 
the dogs broke into a mad run with the komatik 
bouncing and swaying whenever a runner came 
into contact with a bit of rough ice. Jim clung 
to his seat desperately, expecting every moment to 
be overturned. But Peter was a good driver, and 
they made the passage without accident. 

“ Bah-der! ” shouted in quick succession a dozen 
times turned Captain to the left. They shot safely 
past the end of the snow-covered jetty and into 


THE WELCOME AT THE JUG 


193 


the trail that led to the cabin, and a moment later 
came to a stop before the door. The Angus dogs 
were out to meet them, and Jamie, with a dog 
whip, vainly trying to drive them back, was shout¬ 
ing at the top of his voice. David ran forward to 
assist, and Peter with the butt of his whip as a 
club joined the tangle of fighting, snarling beasts, 
until presently the rival teams were separated and 
quiet restored without damage. 

Margaret and Jamie had sighted the approach¬ 
ing komatik the moment it turned the point. Mar¬ 
garet was at the door to meet them, and though 
neither she nor Jamie had ever before seen Jim, 
they welcomed him quite as warmly as though he 
had been an old friend. 

“ Fm so glad you comes. ’Tis fine to have 
visitors,” Margaret assured, as she bustled about 
when all were seated, preparing a pot of hot tea and 
a luncheon. “ There, now, ’twill stay your hunger 
whilst I cooks dinner.” 

The cabin at The Jug was built of logs, and 
faced the south. The sun was cheerfully stream¬ 
ing through two front windows. These and an¬ 
other window in the rear were draped with snowy 
white muslin curtains. The room was simply and 
primitively furnished, but the home-made table, 
four home-made chairs, the chests which served 
both as storage places for clothing and as seats, and 
the uncarpeted floor were scoured clean and white 
with sand and soap, as was a closet where Mar¬ 
garet stored dishes and food. 

A big box stove, which would accommodate great 
billets of wood, crackled cozily. A clock ticked 


194 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


cheerfully upon the shelf. At one side of the clock 
three polished brass candlesticks were arranged in 
a row, with candles ready for lighting. On the 
other side lay a Bible. Against the north wall and 
in the rear of the room was a commodious bunk 
built against the wall, resembling a ship’s bunk, in 
front of which hung curtains, now draped back. 
In spite of its crude furnishings, an indescribable 
atmosphere of comfort pervaded the cabin. 

Originally there was no other room than this 
and the enclosed lean-to porch or shed on the west¬ 
ern end, which served both as a storm porch at the 
entrance and also for the storage of firewood, dog 
harness, and odds and ends. But when the chil¬ 
dren came Thomas Angus built an addition on the 
east end, which he partitioned into two rooms. One 
of these Margaret occupied. The other, contain¬ 
ing three built-in berths, was given over to the 
boys. The bed in the living room was occupied 
by Thomas when he was at home, and during his 
absence by Doctor Joe. It was now arranged that 
Jim should sleep in it, and Doctor Joe should use 
Andy’s bed while Andy and Jamie should sleep 
together. 

“ Plenty of room,” insisted Doctor Joe, when 
Jim protested that he would sleep on the floor in 
his sleeping bag. “ You’re an invalid and a guest.” 

“ Andy and I likes to sleep together, sir,” vol¬ 
unteered Jamie. “ I likes un wonderful well, and 
we likes to have Doctor Joe sleep in our room.” 

“ That settles it,” declared Doctor Joe. “ Now 
you can’t object.” 

When dinner was eaten Peter left them to re- 


THE WELCOME AT THE JUG 


195 


turn home, and when he was gone they all gathered 
about the cheerful stove for a cozy afternoon, while 
Jim narrated his adventure, and Jamie asked no 
end of questions. Tears came into Margaret’s sym¬ 
pathetic eyes when Doctor Joe and the boys do- 
scribed Jim’s condition at the time they found him. 

“ You were havin’ grit, now, sir! ” exclaimed 
Jamie. “ Grit and a stout heart, too, like Pop 
says a man must be havin’ when he gets in hard 
places.” 

“ Thank you,” said Jim. “ That’s a compli¬ 
ment.” 

“ I’m fearin’ now somethin’s been happenin’ to 
Injun Jake, sir. He’d never been leavin’ you 
whatever unless somethin’ were happenin’ to he,” 
suggested Margaret anxiously. 

“ Ho,” said Jamie positively, “ he’d never been 
leavin’ you, sir, whateYe r.” 

These good people were evidently all loyal 
friends of Indian Jake, and Jim decided never to 
hurt their feelings by criticizing the half-breed in 
their presence. 

In the days that followed Jim recovered strength 
rapidly under the care of Margaret and Doctor Joe, 
and the unremitting attentions of Jamie. Jim had 
at once assumed the proportions of a hero in 
Jamie’s eyes, and the lad never failed of an even¬ 
ing to demand a story from him. David and Andy, 
when they were not trapping, and Margaret, too, 
were tireless listeners to his tales of college life, 
and particularly his descriptions of hard-fought 
football and baseball contests in which he had 
taken part. He must needs describe the games to 


196 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


them, and how the games were played, with much 
detail. 

In a week Doctor Joe permitted Jim to walk, 
and in ten days to go with Jamie when the lad 
visited his rabbit snares. 

“ You’re doing so nicely that I can leave you in 
the care of Margaret and Jamie now,” said Doc¬ 
tor Joe upon the occasion of Jim’s first outing with 
Jamie. “ I must see every one around the bay be¬ 
fore Christmas. Andy and I will leave in the 
morning. Are you game for it, Andy ? ” 

“ Aye, sir,” responded Andy eagerly. “ ’Twill 
be fine to go cruisin’.” 

“ I’ve been here ten days,” said Jim, “ and Mc¬ 
Carthy hasn’t appeared yet. If you’re going across 
the bay, would it be convenient for me to go with 
you. It is quite important that I see McCarthy 
and get matters straightened out over there.” 

“ McCarthy won’t be here for another three 
weeks,” laughed Doctor Joe. “ I didn’t tell you 
before, but I sent him a line with yours explaining 
that you should have at least until Christmas for 
rest and recuperation before you would be in con¬ 
dition to take part in any logging camp activities. 
I advised him to postpone his visit until then. I 
had a premonition, from what I heard of your talk 
with Billy Hand, that you and McCarthy were to 
get together to plan a coup. You must be physi¬ 
cally able before you get into any such mess as that 
;will stir up.” 

“ I feel pretty able now,” protested Jim. 

u Do you feel you are strong enough to meet one 
of those big lumberjacks, or possibly Dawes, for 


THE WELCOME AT THE JUG 


197 


example, in a go ? ” asked Doctor Joe, with a 
twinkle in his eye. 

“ Well, no, not just yet,” admitted Jim, recall¬ 
ing Dawes’ powerful frame and bulldog face. 

“ From what I infer you are likely to have dif¬ 
ferences with him the day you and he meet,” said 
Doctor Joe. “ Don’t go to the camp until you are 
sure you are ready. Dawes is no lamb in disposi¬ 
tion, and he is pretty free with his fists and knows 
how to use them. He is a slugger, and a bad man 
with whom to have a controversy. I’ve been called 
over several times since he took the camps to patch 
up men with whom he’d had differences, or with 
whom he was displeased. He don’t argue with any 
one. He knocks them down, and then his favourite 
method is to kick them unmercifully while they 
are down.” 

“ It’s hard to wait so long, but I’m not in condi¬ 
tion yet,” admitted Jim. “ Perhaps you are 
right.” 

“ Yes, I’m right,” said Doctor Joe. “ You’d 
better stay here and get more of your weight back, 
with Margaret to feed you and Jamie to help train 
you out in the woods. He can run on snowshoes 
like a rabbit, and when you can stay with him on 
the trail your legs will be in better shape for foot 
work.” 

“ Very well,” agreed Jim, “ I’ll take your ad¬ 
vice. It’s so comfortable here I’ll confess I don’t 
care to leave.” 

Jim was himself no novice in the art of snow- 
shoeing, and presently he and Jamie were taking 
long hunting trips together. His appetite was 


198 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


enormous, and his frame was daily filling out and 
returning to its normal proportions. With a well- 
nourished body he regained muscular vigour also. 
Twice every day he put himself through a routine 
of gymnastics and setting-up exercises. Jamie was 
keenly interested in this, and Jim invited him to 
join in the drill. He also gave Jamie lessons in 
boxing, and taught him footwork and guarding, 
and Jamie was so apt a pupil that Jim declared he 
would make a real boxer of the lad, of which Jamie 
was proud indeed. 

Peter and Lige Sparks drove their dogs over one 
day and brought Jim a letter from McCarthy. In 
this letter he stated that he was happy to learn of 
Jim’s escape. 

Dawes, he stated, had taken the logs out of the 
boom before the freeze-up, and had saved them. 
He had established three new camps on Deep 
Creek, four miles to the westward of Grampus 
River. To these new camps the greater number of 
the new men had been transferred, leaving the old 
camps, Numbers One, Two and Three, manned 
chiefly by McCarthy’s own men. The few that 
were left were spies, he had no doubt. Certainly 
they were not of much use in the logging operation. 
The only exceptions were millwrights and mechan¬ 
ics engaged, still, in the work of remodelling the 
mill. 

In closing McCarthy announced that he would 
definitely arrive at The Jug on the day before New 
Year’s day. After the usual custom that day, New 
Year’s day and the day following would be holi¬ 
days in the camp. He would bring his copy of the 


THE WELCOME AT THE JUG 


199 


contract with him, and then Jim could decide what 
he wished done. 

“ He seems to he putting the whole thing up to 
me! ” Jim exclaimed with some irritation. “ If he 
would only read it he would find that his contract 
makes him a partner and requires him to manage 
the whole operation. I’d like to know what more 
he wants! He appears to be letting Dawes run 
things with a free hand, and don’t even make a 
protest. But I suppose it’s partly my fault. He 
wanted to depose Dawes last fall when I called at 
Camp Number One to see him, and I protested that 
we couldn’t do it legally, because I didn’t under¬ 
stand then the conditions and knew nothing about 
the contract. He’s standing on that, I suppose.” 

But on the whole it was a most gratifying letter. 
Things were, apparently, not going so badly as he 
had expected. The new men and the thugs had, 
for the most part, been removed and segregated in 
camps by themselves, and even though they did 
little in the way of output, they must, of necessity, 
do something. With them away the old men would 
work better and more contentedly. And, if there 
were to be a fight to depose Dawes and reinstate 
McCarthy, matters could be handled to much bet¬ 
ter advantage with the factions in separate camps. 

McCarthy would come at New Year’s ! Jim was 
impatient for the day to arrive. He was now in 
such excellent physical condition that there could 
be no objection to his returning with McCarthy to 
the camps. They would meet Dawes and tell him 
what was what, and then they would see what 
would happen. 


XX 


A STARTLING REVELATION 


D OCTOR JOE and Andy returned from 
their cruise one week before Christmas. 
Doctor Joe was amazed when he saw 
Jim, who was again almost the young giant he had 
been when he first came to The Labrador. 

“ You’ll do for the logging camp,” declared Doc¬ 
tor Joe. “ You certainly look fit and as hard as 
nails. But even yet you had better keep out of 
a personal scrap with Dawes. He’s a heavier man 
than you, his work has toughened him, and he 
knows how to fight, as I had occasion to observe 
when I was over there last week.” 

“ He thinks I’m just a little college boy and 
won’t do much work,” Jim grinned. “ He said so, 
and he inferred that he might even take me across 
his knee and spank me if I wasn’t real good.” 

“ He’d have an armful,” Doctor Joe laughed. 
“ But let me warn you, he’s a bad man with whom 
to have trouble, and he might spank you, figura¬ 
tively, pretty hard. So don’t be too confident of 
yourself. You can’t match him.” 

“ I’m going to avoid trouble if I can,” said Jim 
seriously, “ but I’m going to stand back of Mc¬ 
Carthy in his fight for his place as superintendent, 
and, after all, it’s my fight, too. Perhaps Dawes 
200 


A STARTLING REVELATION 


201 


will be reasonable when be hears the facts. I hope 
he will, but it’s doubtful.” 

Jim had made one round of the trapping trail 
with David, but otherwise had not been absent 
from The Jug since his arrival, and when Doctor 
Joe announced a day or two after his return that 
he was leaving the following morning for a visit 
to the Hudson’s Bay Company’s post, and invited 
Jim to accompany him, Jim accepted eagerly. 

It was Sunday, and David was at home. Andy 
volunteered to take a turn at David’s traps, that 
David might visit the post also to make some neces¬ 
sary purchases. 

“ Margaret and Jamie might go along, too, for 
the cruise,” suggested Doctor Joe. “ How would 
you like to go, Margaret ? You haven’t been away 
from home for half a year, have you ? ” 

“ ’Tis half a year, whatever! I’d like wonder¬ 
ful well to go! ” and Margaret’s cheeks flushed 
with pleasure. 

“ Good! We’ll spend the night there, and come 
back the following day,” promised Doctor Joe. 

“ Girls where I come from,” said Jim, “ would 
think they were buried alive if they had to keep 
so closely home. It’s a shame, Margaret, that you 
don’t get away oftener.” 

“ I don’t mind bidin’ home, sir, but ’tis fine to 
get away now and again.” Margaret smiled hap¬ 
pily. “ I were havin’ a cruise to Fort Pelican in 
the boat last summer. That were a wonderful 
fine cruise, sir.” 

All day Margaret hustled and bustled about, get¬ 
ting the house tidy and making herself ready for 


202 THE TESTING OF JIM) MAC LEAN 


her journey of twenty miles, and that night she was 
so excited at the prospect that she could scarcely 
sleep at all. And the following morning, when 
she was tucked snugly into the cruising box on 
David’s komatik, her cheeks were pink with 
pleasure. 

It was near noon when they turned East Point, 
and the line of low white buildings of the post, 
snug and inviting, came into view. A half hour 
later David halted the dogs before the cottage of 
Zeke Hodge, the post servant, and Kate Hodge, his 
daughter, and Mrs. Hodge came out delighted to 
discover Margaret on the komatik, and to welcome 
and lead her within. 

Mr. MacCreary, the factor, was in the shop, and 
when Doctor Joe and Jim presented themselves, 
and Jim was introduced, lie invited them to join 
him at his residence, which was a rather more pre¬ 
tentious building than the others of the post. 

“ We’re going to spend the night with you,” said 
Doctor Joe, as they entered the factor’s comfort¬ 
able little sitting room. “ We’ve invited ourselves, 
and we hope you’ll find it convenient.” 

“ So much the better. I’m glad to have you at 
any time, and glad to make Mr. MacLean’s ac¬ 
quaintance,” Mr. MacCreary welcomed. “ Make 
yourselves at home. Bachelor quarters, you know. 
No ceremony.” 

During the afternoon Doctor Joe and Jim spent 
an hour in the store with Mr. MacCreary making 
purchases. Jamie came to join them, but Doctor 
Joe warned him away. 

“ This is a private foraging party. Be gone, you 


A STARTLING REVELATION 


203 


rascal! ” and Doctor Joe assumed a severe look, at 
which Jamie laughed and departed. 

“ I want to get something for Margaret and the 
boys for Christmas/’ he explained. “ That lad is 
too curious.” 

“ It will be a fine chance for me to show a small 
part of my appreciation for all they’ve done for 
me,” said Jim. “ I hadn’t given Christmas a 
thought. I’ve tried to pay David and Andy and 
Margaret separately, and not one of them could I 
induce to accept a cent of money, and even the sug¬ 
gestion seemed to hurt them.” 

“ Yes, give them each something,” agreed Doc¬ 
tor Joe. “ They’ll appreciate it, though they ex¬ 
pect nothing, and would not feel happy if they 
thought you gave it in way of payment, they’ll 
value it highly as a token of friendship.” 

Jim entered into the spirit of the occasion, and 
when the two returned with Mr. MacCreary to the 
factor’s house, they carried several disguised and 
mysterious bundles. Jim suggested that they have 
a Christmas tree, and Doctor Joe accepted the sug¬ 
gestion as a good one that he was sure would prove 
a novelty to the young people. 

That evening, after they had eaten and were 
chatting in the sitting room, and after he had 
drawn from Jim an account of his adventures, Mr. 
MacCreary suddenly turned to Jim with the 
question: 

“ Are you and your superintendent, Dawes, on 
good terms ? ” 

“ He’s not legally our superintendent,” answered 
Jim with asperity. “ As soon as I get over to the 


204 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


camp that fellow will be relieved from duty. Mc¬ 
Carthy is superintendent, or should be. I never 
met Dawes but once.” 

“ I simply wished to warn you that he is not 
loyal to you,” explained Mr. MaoCreary. “ I felt 
that you should understand his attitude.” 

“ What did he do particularly to suggest it ? ” 
asked Jim. “ Do you mind telling me? ” 

“ Not in the least,” answered Mr. MacCreary. 
“ He was here a fortnight ago making purchases 
for the camp—” 

“ Purchases!” interjected Jim. “ Don’t sell 
him a thing on the camp’s credit! No one but Mc¬ 
Carthy has authority to buy for the camp. I have 
no authority myself. In two years I shall have, 
but Dawes hasn’t authority now and never will 
have.” 

“ I’m glad you warned me. He purchased her. /- 
ily in flour, pork and other provisions and supplies 
for the new camps he has been building. He’s to 
have the goods hauled over after the New Year, 
and I’m holding them for him until he sends for 
them. With your warning he won’t get them with¬ 
out cash or McCarthy’s order.” 

“ That’s good,” Jim acknowledged with satis¬ 
faction. 

“ Referring to his disloyalty,” resumed the fac¬ 
tor, “ it is rather personal than to the business, but 
a man disloyal to the owner of a business will not 
work for the best interests of the business. He has 
taken occasion to speak slightingly of you cn sev¬ 
eral occasions when here, and when he made his 
last visit recently he said he had no doubt you had 


A STARTLING REVELATION 


205 


disposed of Indian Jake. When I asked him what 
he meant, he said you suspected Indian Jake of 
having murdered and robbed your father, and that 
you induced the half-breed to go into the country 
with you, and when you had him well out of reach 
had doubtless shot him in revenge. 

“ I had never met you, and had only heard sec¬ 
ond-hand through the natives a garbled account of 
your experiences, and he half induced me to believe 
his accusation, if I may call it such. Now that 
I’ve met you and heard your story at first hand, 
and knowing Indian Jake as I do, let me assure 
you, sir, that I have the utmost confidence in you 
and the truth of what you have told me.” 

“ Thank you,” acknowledged Jim gratefully. 

“ The worst of it is,” continued Mr. MacCreary, 
“ Dawes has poisoned the minds of the natives 
against you. They look upon you as a murderer. 
As much as they dislike Indian Jake, and in spite 
of the fact that they believe he was guilty of mur¬ 
dering and robbing your father, they are deeply 
prejudiced against you, and feel that you are in 
the same class with Indian Jake. They are afraid 
of you. The only exceptions to this, I understand, 
are the lads who were in your rescue party. They 
appear to be loyal to you and to have the utmost 
confidence in you. 

“ I understand that this feeling toward you has 
taken root among the lumberjacks. While some of 
them loyally defend you, and believe in your in¬ 
nocence, others of them denounce you boldly and 
openly, and threaten to quit work if you go into 


206 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


the camps. I’ve warned you of this that you may 
be on your guard.” 

Jim was stunned. While this was a condition 
that he had anticipated, the reality of its existence 
came to him as a decided shock. When he and 
Doctor Joe had retired to the room which they were 
to occupy in common, Doctor Joe attempted to 
cheer Jim and to make little of what the factor 
had told him. 

“ Don’t let it worry you, Jim,” he counselled. 
“ I heard it when on my cruise. You should have 
heard Andy Angus defend you in nearly every 
cabin where we stopped, and all of my scouts are 
standing behind you loyally, and they have influ¬ 
ence. None of the Angus family will believe a 
thing against you, and they are about the only 
friends Indian Jake ever had in the bay. 

“ I visited the lumber camps to look after two 
or three cases that required attention, and one of 
them was a man McCarthy had pounded unmerci¬ 
fully because of a remark concerning you such as 
MacCreary spoke of. It is only because he does 
not want to precipitate trouble, he told me, until 
you gave the word, that he hasn’t taken Dawes in 
hand and settled him. He’s loyal to the last ditch, 
and I believe all of his old men are also. It is 
only among the new men Dawes brought in last 
summer that any of the feeling toward you or dis¬ 
belief in you exists, and I am sure that in most 
cases it is feigned for effect, and to back up 
Dawes.” 

“But every one at home will believe it,” said 
Jim dejectedly. “Dawes and Jagger will see to 


A STARTLING REVELATION 


207 


that. I can’t prove my case. My old friends will 
hear the story and shun me as a man with hands 
stained by human blood! ” 

“ But your conscience is clear. That’s the big 
thing after all. No friend will believe it that is 
worthy of your friendship. Don’t worry about 
that.” 

“ And it will make my work in the camp almost 
impossible. How can I work side by side, day 
after day, with men that believe that of me ? ” 

“ Don’t cross bridges till you come to them,” 
counselled Doctor Joe. “ I doubt if there is one 
of your old lumberjacks that believes it, even if 
the new ones do, or pretend to.” 

But hope had gone out of Jim’s heart. He was 
sure that he was forever to be marked as a mur¬ 
derer, and the thought steeped his soul in bitterness 
and resentment against the world. 


XXI 

PREPARING FOR BATTLE 


I T was late when Jim fell asleep to dream that 
the whole world had placed him in Coventry. 
No one spoke to him. Everyone avoided him 
except Dawes. Wherever he turned he saw Dawes’ 
bulldog face transformed into that of a demon and 
wearing a demoniac grin. It followed him, mock¬ 
ing and deriding him. 

Suddenly Jim awoke from his horrid dream to 
hear Doctor Joe moving about the room and sing¬ 
ing in a low tenor voice: 

“ Old Worry’s my foe, and he always brings woe, 

And he follows about wherever I go. 

He’s always on hand, and he makes the world blue. 

And all about troubles that never come true. 

“ The worst of my foes are worries and woes, 

And all about troubles that never come true— 

And all about troubles that never come true. 

The worst of my troubles are worries and woes, 

And all about troubles that never come true. 

“ I’ll put them behind me, and be a real man, 

And I’ll smile and be cheerful, as anyone can; 

For it’s foolish to fret, and worry, and stew, 

And all about troubles that never come true.” 

It was morning, though still dark, and Doctor 
Joe was dressing by candle-light. Jim lay watch¬ 
ing him while he sang, and when he ceased, sat up 
in bed. 


208 


PREPARING FOR BATTLE 


209 


“ Good morning, Jim,” Doctor Joe greeted 
cheerily. “ Did I wake you with my noise ? I 
should have been more careful.” 

“ Pm glad you did,” said Jim. “ I was having 
a nightmare, and your singing saved my life.” 

“ There’s no hurry about getting up,” suggested 
Doctor Joe, “ but I came to at the usual hour, and 
started a fire in the stove and didn’t go back.” 

“ What time do they have breakfast here ? ” 

“ Not till daylight. You have a full hour yet. 
I’m going to get David to take a run up with me 
to a cabin just above the post to see how a woman 
with a houseful of youngsters is getting on while 
her man is away trapping. Some of them are 
usually ailing. I’ll he back at break o’ day.” 

“ All right. I won’t hurry then.” 

Doctor Joe went out whistling the refrain of his 
song, and Jim settled down in bed again to think 
over the revelation of the evening before. 

“ That song is all right,” said he, rising with 
the first hint of dawn, “ but I’m not worrying 
about troubles that never come true. My troubles 
have arrived sure enough, and plenty of them, too. 
But I’ll have to keep my worry under my hat. If 
I show it, Margaret and the boys and everybody 
else will think I really did kill Indian Jake, and 
that I’m worrying because I’m afraid I’m found 
out. They’ll never be able to understand my point 
of view.” 

With this resolution he made his toilet and went 
down to breakfast. 

It was a cold journey back that afternoon. The 
sky was heavily clouded, a keen northeast wind 


210 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


blew down to meet them, and snow began to fall 
as they turned in at The Jug. 

“ Just in time,” said Doctor Joe. “We’re due 
for an old snorter of a blizzard.” 

Andy had not returned from the trail and the 
cabin was cold. Doctor Joe kindled and lighted 
a fire in the stove, while David and Jamie fed the 
dogs and Jim carried in the bundles. In a little 
while the room was warm, and when the candle 
was lighted, Jim thought it a haven of rest and 
shelter. Here in this little isolated cabin in the 
wilderness none looked at him with eyes askance, 
as he was sure everyone in the world he had al¬ 
ways known would do henceforth. How could he 
ever go back there, and live the life of an outcast! 
His pill of bitterness was tinctured with self-pity. 
It is never well for one’s peace of mind or happi¬ 
ness to permit one’s self to descend to self-pity. 

Margaret was bubbling over with the joy of her 
little cruise. What a small thing made her happy, 
Jim thought, watching her glowing, smiling face, 
as she moved quickly about preparing the evening 
meal and chattering gaily of the gossip she had 
heard of the folk of the bay. No doubt she had 
heard gossip enough about himself! But she gave 
no sign of it, and for this he was grateful. And 
she talked with him, as she did to Doctor Joe, quite 
as though he were one of them, and as interested 
in it all as she was herself. 

“’Twill be a nasty night, a wonderful nasty 
night,” David observed as he and Jamie entered 
and drew off their adikeys. 


PREPARING FOR BATTLE 211 

11 ’Tis time Andy were back an hour ago,” said 
Margaret. “'I’m wonderin’ what keeps he.” 

“ I were thinkin’ o’ that.” David hung his 
adikey upon a peg. “ Andy leaves yesterday 
marnin’ before we starts for the post. He were 
countin’ on makin’ the far tilt before dark, and 
sayin’ he’d be home and have the fire on and the 
kettle bilin’ before we gets home this evenin’.” 

“ Andy’s all right,” broke in Jamie. “ He’s fine 
on the trail. He’s not fearin’ to travel in the dark. 
Andy has plenty o’ grit, and a stout heart like a 
man’s.” 

“ Grit! ” thought Jim. “ That’s the thing that 
wins—grit and a stout heart like a man’s—a mans 
heart. I’ve got to have grit and face the world 
with a stout heart, and fight for my place in it, and 
for success, so long as I keep my hands clean and 
my conscience clear. I’ll try to brace up, and have 
grit and a stout heart, and rise above innuendo and 
slander.” 

Andy arrived presently with his flatsled loaded 
with venison. 

“ I knocked un over by Long Mesh this marnin’,” 
he explained. “ It were takin’ quite a spell to skin 
and dress un, and with a heavy load ’twere slow 
travelin’.” 

As David and Doctor Joe had predicted, the 
worst storm of the season raged for three days and 
nights. It was well, perhaps, for Jim, that the 
storm came at this time. It confined everyone to 
the house, and the lads gave him no opportunity 
to brood and moon over his troubles. While the 
wind howled and shrieked about the house, and 


212 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


beat tbe snow against the window-panes, they sat 
in a circle, warm and snug, around the stove. And 
while Margaret sewed, and the lads busied them¬ 
selves mending dog harness and webbing snowshoes, 
Doctor Joe and Jim told them stories of the great 
world outside. 

On the afternoon of Christmas eve the sky 
cleared, and Jim went out and cut a suitable 
Christmas tree. This he secreted behind the cabin, 
and when all had retired but himself and Doctor 
Joe he brought it in, and the two set it up and 
trimmed it with streamers and loops of coloured 
ribbons purchased for the purpose at the post store. 
Then they went out, and in the moonlight broke 
spruce and balsam branches with which they 
decorated the living room walls and overhead 
beams, introducing colour through the use of red 
ribbons. When this was completed to their satis¬ 
faction they placed the packages of gifts, which 
they had purchased at the store, beneath the tree. 

The two conspirators were the first out of bed 
on Christmas morning. When David presently ap¬ 
peared to light the fire, as was his custom, he was 
greeted by a warm room and a cheerfully crackling 
fire. He opened his eyes in amazement. He did 
not know the place, and could scarce believe his 
senses. Then came Andy and Jamie and Mar¬ 
garet. Every one of them exclaiming with delight. 
Tears of happiness stood in Margaret’s eyes, as she 
said: 

“ ’Tis so pretty! I never saw anything so pretty 
before! I just loves un! ” 

“ It’s Jim’s idea,” laughed Doctor Joe. “ He 


PREPARING FOR BATTLE 


213 


wanted to do it. I never would have thought of 
such a thing.” 

“ No,” said Jim, “ it's my mother’s idea. She 
always had a Christmas tree, and trimmed the 
house with evergreens for me, while she lived. 
Dad never had the heart to do it after she left us. 
I wanted my pal here to have a Christmas tree like 
I used to have,” and he put his big hand on Jamie’s 
shoulder, “ and for all of you. I was selfish, too, 
perhaps, for I wanted it for myself in memory of 
my mother.” 

Jamie’s arm stole around Jim and squeezed an 
appreciation, and all of them thanked him. But 
that little squeeze Jamie gave him went to his 
heart, and did more than anything else that day 
to make him forget his troubles. No matter what 
others said of him this lad and these people be¬ 
lieved no ill of him. 

“ ’Tis so wonderful fine lookin’ I just wants to 
stand and look at un all the time,” Margaret de¬ 
clared. 

“ After breakfast,” suggested Doctor Joe, we’ll 
see what is in those bundles. Jim and I are 
famished.” 

“Coffee this morning!” exclaimed Jim. “I 
found that Mr. MaeCreary had a stock for his own 
private use, and I induced him to let me have some 
of it. I’ll make the coffee myself.” 

That was a luxury, as was also the condensed 
milk Jim brought forth, and orange marmalade 
produced by Doctor Joe. Andy brought in some 
caribou steaks, and as Jim declared as he drank 


214 THE TESTING OP JIM MAG LEAN 


his fourth cup of strong coffee, it was a breakfast 
fit for a king. 

Then they gathered around the tree while Doc¬ 
tor Joe played Santa Claus, and handed out the 
packages. From Jim there was a double barreled 
shotgun for David and one for Andy, and a forty- 
four carbine for Jamie, and a watch for Margaret, 
and candies and raisins for everybody. Doctor 
Joe’s gifts were all of clothing, including a fine 
woolen sweater for Margaret. Then Margaret pre¬ 
sented Jim and Doctor Joe and each of the boys, 
without discrimination, with bead-embroidered 
moccasins that she had made with her own hands. 

For dinner there were two roast geese, which 
David had shot late in the fall, and kept frozen 
and fresh. And there was a great plum pudding 
made by Margaret from ingredients purchased at 
the post store by Doctor Joe. And after dinner 
was cleared away, a cozy gathering around the 
stove while Doctor Joe read aloud Dickens’ 
“ Christmas Carol,” which he had among his books. 

Christmas day and the companionship of the 
days preceding it were a boon to Jim. They led 
him away from his thoughts and deadened the first 
blow of his trouble. Neither Margaret nor any 
of the boys so much as hinted, by word or action, 
that they were aware of the suspicion that Dawes 
had created against him in the community. 

On New Year’s eve there was to be dancing at 
the Hudson’s Bay Company’s post, and on New 
Year’s day shooting matches and games and danc¬ 
ing in the evening. Many of the trappers who had 
entered the wilderness in early fall were to return 


PREPARING FOR BATTLE 


215 


at this time to visit their families and to barter 
pelts for fresh supplies. David and Andy were 
planning to go to the festivities, and after some 
persuasion, Margaret, too, consented to join them 
and take Jamie, though Margaret declared that she 
felt as though she was doing too much “ gaddin’ 
about.” Jim was glad to have none but Doctor Joe 
there when McCarthy should arrive, and he was 
relieved when Margaret and the boys departed 
early on the morning of the last day of December. 
He was torn with anxiety as to the influence that 
Dawes’ stories might actually have had upon the 
camp, and particularly upon McCarthy. 

It was near noon, and Doctor Joe was preparing 
caribou steaks to cook for dinner, and Jim, who 
had mixed biscuits with Doctor Joe’s help, was 
placing the biscuits in the oven to bake, when Peter 
and Lige 'Sparks drove their dogs up to the door 
with McCarthy as a passenger. 

“ You’re just in time,” greeted Jim, meeting 
them at the door. “ Pat, there’s no one in the 
world that I’d rather see just now than you, and 
it has required patience to wait for you.” 

“ And it’s yezself I’m just as glad to see! ” ex¬ 
claimed McCarthy, grasping Jim’s hand in a hearty 
greeting. “ And I’m overjoyed to see the fine 
caribou meat the Docther there do be gettin’ ready 
to cook. Give me yez hand, Docther, and the saints 
help yez if yez don’t cook enough for ten min. I 
haven’t seen the loikes o’ that caribou meat the 
whole winther, and I’m starvin’ for a bit o’ fresh 
meat. Put plenty o’ fat with it, Docther.” 


216 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“ We’ll try to satisfy you,” laughed Doctor Joe, 
as lie shook McCarthy’s hand. 

“ There’s no wondther the lad here do be lookin’ 
so foin and fit with such eatin’,” McCarthy re¬ 
marked, as he drew off his adikey. “ Jim, me b’y, 
’tis good for sore eyes to see yez. I was expectin’ 
from what Billy Hand tould me to, find yez thin 
as a cedar pole and walkin’ with a stick, and here 
yez be as big and spry as ever.” 

“ They’re taking good care of me over here, 
Pat.” 

“ Yez look it, b’y, ivery inch of yez. Now I’m 
goin’ to have a real shmoke. It’s so could travelin’ 
that me pipe froze up whin I thried to shmoke, and 
I’ve had nary a whiff since I left the store this 
marnin’.” 

McCarthy filled his pipe with tobacco that he 
shaved with his jackknife from a black plug, and 
settled back comfortably to smoke and chat. Jim 
felt decidedly relieved. Whatever the others might 
think of him, McCarthy evidently had not lost 
faith in him. 

Peter and Lige came in after settling the dogs 
outside, and when they had hung up their adikeys 
and washed their hands, assisted, at Doctor Joe’s 
suggestion, in setting the table while he cooked the 
meat and Jim made a pot of coffee. And when 
they had eaten, Peter announced: 

“ Lige and me’ll be cruisin’ on now to the post, 
Mr. McCarthy, and you’re not needin’ us, sir. 
We’ll be cornin’ back the marnin’ after New 
Year’s.” 

“ Go on, lads, and have a good time,” agreed Me- 


PREPARING FOR BATTLE 


217 


Carthy. “ Shake a heel with the gurruls to-night. 

’Twill do yez both good. Pm goin’ to settle down 
here meself and enjoy all the comforts of home as 
long as the Docther and JimTl let me.” 

“ I think I’ll take a run over to Break Cove/’ 
Doctor Joe announced when the Sparks boys had 
gone. “ You two are to have a business confer¬ 
ence, I believe, and you won’t need me.” 

“ Don’t go because of that,” Jim hastened to as¬ 
sure. “ You’ll not interfere in the least. Neither 
of us will mind your hearing all we have to say.” 

“ Some medicines and bandages over there that 
I need,” said Doctor Joe, drawing on his adikey. 
“ It is kind of you to ask me to stay, but it is really 
necessary that I go.” 

“ When will you be back? ” asked Jim, as Doc¬ 
tor Joe was passing out of the door. 

“ In two or three hours. I’ll be back in time 
to eat.” 

“ Do! ” urged McCarthy. “ I’ll be wantin’ yez 
to cook me some more of that foin deer’s meat.” 

“All right,” laughed Doctor Joe. “ You may 
depend upon me and the deer’s meat.” 

“ I’ve heard that Dawes is spreading a story that 
I shot Indian Jake,” said Jim, when the door 
closed upon Doctor Joe. “ Of course he’s invented 
the story to suit his end, and it is wholly untrue. 
But I would like to know if he has made our men 
believe it ? ” 

“ Not wan of thim believes it,” assured McCar¬ 
thy. “ Not wan of our min, though some of those 
toughs of his own are sayin’ they do. Our min 
all say Indian Jake skedoodled and left yez, though 


218 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


’tis me own feelin’ an accident overtook him. 
Don’t worry about that story, Jim. Now about the 
conthract.” 

“ Did you bring the contract with you ? ” asked 
Jim. 

“ ’Tis just a conthract for wurruk, for wages 
and a twinty per cent bonus, with the parthy of 
the first part and the parthy of the second part, 
and the saids and aforesaids schprinkled through 
it,” said McCarthy, drawing it from his pocket and 
handing it to Jim. 

“ Don’t you realize that you’re a partner in the 
business ? ” asked Jim, when he had read the agree¬ 
ment through. 

“ Something of the koind,” answered McCarthy, 
a bit reluctantly, Jim thought. “ But what help 
is that to the likes o’ me? Jagger is a lawyer, and 
he wrote that Misther MacLean’s will put him in 
full charge of the operation, and he was makin’ 
Dawes superintindent in me place.” 

“ But that contract makes you a partner, and 
don’t you see,” Jim emphasized a little impa¬ 
tiently, “ it states definitely that Jagger has noth¬ 
ing to do with the operation aside from his trus¬ 
teeship of the fund. He cannot draw on that fund 
except to pay your drafts and vouchers. He can¬ 
not hire or fire a man. He does not even have the 
marketing of the lumber you turn out. Captain 
Dobbs has that in charge. All Jagger can do is 
deposit money in the fund received from Captain 
Dobbs or other sources, and pay out money on 
voucher or your draft.” 

“ Jagger do be writin’ me the will changed all 


PREPARING FOR BATTLE 


219 


that,” insisted McCarthy, “ and here’s the letter.” 

“ The will couldn’t change it,” said Jim, read¬ 
ing the letter. “ Jagger doesn’t appear by this 
letter to know the terms of the contract, except that 
you are employed under contract for two years. 
And even if he did know about it, that would make 
no difference. A contract is a contract, and a will 
cannot alter or change it.” 

“ Misther MacLean were givin’ me a conthract 
before I came here. Misther Jagger drew it for 
him. This wan was made to take its place,” Mc¬ 
Carthy explained. “ It says here in it that all 
other conthracts are cancelled, and that means the 
old wan I had.” 

“ Then Jagger didn’t know about this one ? ” 
asked Jim. 

“ Misther MacLean brought this wan whin he 
came in the summer. I came a month ahead of 
him, and had the first wan before I came. I 
thought it was Jagger drew this wan the same as 
he drew the first wan.” 

“ Evidently not,” said Jim. “ If he did, he’s 
trying to bluff you. Now what are you going to 
do about it, Pat ? ” 

“ I’ll do just what yez wants me to do, Jim. I 
do be tellin’ yez what I want to do before yez were 
goin’ in the counthry with Indian Jake. I wanted 
to start in by breakin’ the head of Dawes by way 
of beginnin’. ’Twas yezself, Jim, tould me to be 
patient, and the likes of me patience iver since was 
niver equalled by Job. The operation is to be 
cornin’ to yezself when yez come of age, and I’d 
not be doin’ annything now that would not be suitin’ 


220 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


yez. That’s why I didn’t fire Dawes out, as was 
me right. It’ll mean fightin’ and riskin’ disthruc- 
tion of property. 

“ If yez be willin’ now to risk that, and gettin’ 
into a bit of a scrap yezself, Jim, to get the rights 
due yez, I’ll be wan happy man and start the pro¬ 
ceeding with joy. But if yez want Dawes to hould 
on for the sake of not makin’ throuble, I’ll start 
nothing and I’ll keep me hands off.” 

“ Now that I know we’re in the right, I want 
you to go to it. You are superintendent here by 
your right under the contract. I’m willing to risk 
any destruction of property that may take place. 
If we don’t do something Jagger will run the prop¬ 
erty in debt and force a sale and buy it in for him¬ 
self. I’d rather have it all destroyed than let him 
get it. I’m with you, Pat.” 

“ The saints be praised! Put it there! ” ex¬ 
claimed Pat, jumping up and seizing Jim’s hand. 
“I’m proud of yez, Jim! That’s what I’ve been 
hopin’ I’d be hearin’ from yez iver since yez came 
to The Labrador! And here I was thinkin’ that 
maybe yez hadn’t the grit to stand and fight for 
the rights that belong to yez! James MacLean 
would be proud of his son. I was misjudgin’ yez, 
Jim.” 

McCarthy walked the length of the room and 
back, and sat down laughing. 

“ I do be laughin’, Jim, at the way we’ll sur¬ 
prise Dawes. Will yez go back with me, Jim, and 
see the fun start ? ” 

“ Of course I will! And here I’ve been thinking 


PREPARING FOR BATTLE 


221 


you’d lost your grip on things, Pat, because you 
let Dawes in.” 

“ We’re quits now, lad! I was thinkin’ ’twas 
yezself had no grit! We’re quits on it, Jim. Now 
let me tell yez about the new camp, Jim. ’Tis 
just beyond our lines, and no claims w T ere iver filed 
by us on Deep Creek, though we had thim surveyed 
intindin’ to file claims for thim later. Dawes 
knows it. He’s layin ? his durthy plans to spind 
the money, and have no lumber for Captain Dobbs 
to take out for income. We’ll start the mill sawin’, 
and we’ll pay Dawes and his gang niver wan cint 
of wages. We’ll make Jagger pay thim himself 
for his durthy wurruk.” 

Again Jim referred to the accusation Dawes had 
made against him. 

“ Put it out of yez head, Jim. No wan at home 
will iver believe Jim MacLean is guilty of mur- 
ther. Mark me wurrud for that, Jim,” assured 
McCarthy. “ And I’m not worryin’ about Indian 
Jake. ’Twould be hard for a storm to get the best 
of him, and he’ll be cornin’ out safe. He niver 
left yez unless throuble came to him, though. If 
he were drownded, the saints rist his soul. If he’s 
livin’ and comes out, he’ll have a fair explanation.” 

“ I can’t help believing that everybody in Labra¬ 
dor except my few friends here believes I killed 
him. But I’m decided to let that take care of it¬ 
self. There’ll be enough else for us to think about. 
We’re going to have a little war on our hands. I 
must find the cave, too, and those papers, as soon 
as possible.” 

“ No wan could iver find that cave now,” sug- 


222 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


gested McCarthy. “ The intrance would be cov¬ 
ered with snow and too well hidden. Whin the 
snow goes off yez might have a look. Wait till 
then.” 

“ Perhaps you’re right,” agreed Jim. 

“ Whin the lads come back with the dogs day 
afther to-morrow, we’ll both cross to the store, and 
we’ll find Dawes there, and we’ll show him who’s 
superintindent of our operation.” 

“ Will he back down when we explain about the 
contract?” asked Jim. 

“ Niver a back! He’ll niver back an inch,” as¬ 
serted McCarthy with a grin. “ He’s a thug and 
a fighter, but I’m a bit of a fighter meself whin’ 
it comes to that.” 

“ How did you tell me last fall that we compare 
as to the number of men we can depend upon to 
stand by us with those Dawes has ? ” 

“ He do be havin’ forty-two min, not countin’ 
himself, to our thirty, not countin’ me and yezself 
and Billy Hand.” 

“ We’ve quite a handicap.” Jim looked troubled. 
“ What if they get the best of it ? ” 

“ I niver throubles throuble till throuble throu- 
bles me,” quoted McCarthy. “ ’Twill be a beauti¬ 
ful fight, and I’m itchin’ to get into it.” 


XXII 

THE 'CHALLENGE 


T HEY heard Doctor Joe, singing as he ap¬ 
proached, and a moment later he entered. 
“ Frosty out,” he said, as he removed 
his adikey, and standing by the stove picked the 
ice from his beard. “ Forty below. It’ll be fifty 
by morning. You fellows look as though you’re 
enjoying yourselves.” 

“ The foinest afthemoon I’ve spint the whole 
winther,” declared McCarthy, removing his pipe 
from between his teeth. “ Jim here and meself 
have been plannin’ a bit of a scrap, and the thought 
of it fills me heart with joy.” 

u Planning work for me! ” Doctor Joe laughed. 
“ A scrap betokens broken heads to be mended, but 
if it’s in a good cause I’ll gladly mend the broken 
heads. My walk gave me an appetite. Light a 
candle, Jim, and we’ll boil the kettle and have a 
cup of tea.” 

“ May the saints iver bless yez, Docther,” Pat 
grinned. “ Me own insides do be needin’ renewed 
nourishment too, but I’m so retirin’ and timid in 
me disposition I was too bashful to ask for anny- 
thing to eat. I haven’t done wan turn of exercise 
this whole afthernoon, but talk with Jim here, if 
that may be called exercise, but me stummik do be 
cryin’ for food. May I ask now, is this cup o’ 
223 


224 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


tea designed to get me mind off the deer’s meat? 
If it is, I give yez fair warnin’ ’twill niver suc¬ 
ceed.” 

“ Not at all! Not at all! ” Doctor Joe assured, 
laughing. “ You shall have all the deer’s meat you 
can eat. I’ll have to cook some to satisfy my own 
craving for substantial food. I’ll put a piece in 
the oven to roast.” 

“ Ah-h! ” Pat lay back his head and closed his 
eyes exstatieally. “ I do be schmellin’ and tastin’ 
it now! If we only had some potaters to go with 
it, biled with the jackets on, we’d be havin’ a feast 
fit for the Prisident. All the potaters we had at 
the camp were gone a month ago, and since then 
it’s been pork and beans and salt horse three times 
a day, and niver a schmell o’ cabbage to go with 
the salt horse, which is not right or befittin’ the 
grub that gintlemin should eat. Next fall I’ll have 
Captain Dobbs bring in wan full cargo of potaters 
and cabbage.” 

The roast venison, which came in due time, was 
quite equal to Pat’s expectations. The evening 
with Doctor Joe and McCarthy was a particularly 
pleasant one for Jim, and the world and his future 
looked brighter to him when he went to bed that 
night. 

An hour before noon on the day after New 
Year’s day David and Peter appeared with their 
dog teams, bringing Margaret and the boys. They 
were all excited and happy. There had been danc¬ 
ing at night, and sports for the boys during the 
day. David had won a snowshoe race, and a pair 


THE CHALLENGE 


225 


of Indian-made snowshoes as the prize, offered by 
Mr. MacCreary. 

Jim had already packed his duffle and completed 
his preparations for departure to the lumber camp, 
and immediately after dinner Peter and Lige made 
their sledge ready, and Jim’s bags were carried out 
and lashed into place. 

“ ’Twill be wonderful lonely when you goes, 
sir,” said Margaret, when Jim was ready and of¬ 
fered her his hand. 

“ I haven’t words to thank you and Doctor Joe 
and the boys, Margaret, for all the fine things 
you’ve done for me,” said Jim feelingly. “ I came 
here a stranger, and sick. You all accepted me as 
one of your family. You nursed and fed me. 
But best of all, you made me feel that this was 
home, and I shall always think of it as my Labra¬ 
dor home. I’m going to miss you all, and the home 
life here, more than you can possibly miss me. I 
wish I might do something in return for all you 
have done for me.” 

“ ’Twere fine to have you here. Come whenever 
you finds a chance and make un your home,” said 
David, and they all echoed the invitation. 

“ We’ll see you soon,” Doctor Joe assured. 
“ Andy and I will be over to your camp to mend 
broken heads, and we may have to bring you back 
with us.” 

“ The foin cookin’, I’ll promise, will be bringin’ 
Jim back, and I’ll be cornin’ with him to share it,” 
suggested McCarthy. “ Margaret, lass, yez sure 
do be a foin cook, and Docther Joe only wan lap 
behind yez.” 


226 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


“ I’d rather come back to enjoy Margaret’s cook¬ 
ing than to have my head mended by Doctor Joe,” 
laughed Jim, as they went out followed by the whole 
family to say a final farewell and see them off. 

The day was stinging cold, but clear and beauti¬ 
ful. The snow was hard-packed upon the ice, and 
the dogs jogged along at a good gait, but the days 
were short, and darkness had settled before they 
turned into Grampus Cove. Lights flickered in the 
windows of the store and the bunk and cook house. 
It seemed a long time to Jim since the night when 
the Gray Goose anchored in the now frozen har¬ 
bour and he first met Indian Jake. What a flood 
of experience had been his since then! 

But there was no time for retrospection. The 
dogs saw the lights, and with usual eagerness upon 
approaching a building, broke into a run, and Jim 
scrambled to a place on the komatik. 

Billy was overjoyed to welcome Jim. He was 
expecting them, and at the howl of the dogs as 
they galloped up before the store he swung open 
the door. 

“ I’m sure glad to see you, Jim! ” he exclaimed, 
as the travelers entered. “ I never saw you lookin’ 
so fit, either. You’ve got back most all you lost 
on the trip into the country, too. How be your 
feet ? ” 

“ Fine! ” said Jim. “ They’re as well as ever. 
Is Dawes around ? ” 

“Yes, he was in here a spell ago. Kind of 
cranky to-day. I guess he’s over in the bunk 
house. What you goin’ to say to him ? ” 


THE CHALLENGE 


227 


“Not much,” Jim grinned, “and Pat will say 
what little there is to say.” 

“ I’m just bilin’ the kettle in my quarters. You 
fellers come in there and have a cup o’ tea and a 
snack to stay you. It’s only four o’clock, and sup¬ 
per won’t be ready in the cook house till six. It’ll 
get you warmed up and feelin’ better before you 
meet Dawes. I want to go along, too, and see 
what’s goin’ on.” 

“ That’s an illigint idea, now,” agreed McCar¬ 
thy. “ We’ll shtay for the tea, Jim, and the snack, 
and thin we’ll all go over and have our conference 
with Dawes, and wan of us, Dawes or me, will have 
a foine time, and me opinion is Dawes will be 
cranky in body as well as in mind whin we’re 
through our conference.” 

“ The tea’ll be ready right off,” promised Billy. 

Peter and Lige, anxious to reach their home, 
which was a half-hour’s drive with the dogs beyond 
the mill, bade the others good evening and de¬ 
parted. Then the three had their tea and snack, 
while Jim and McCarthy enlightened Billy as to 
their proposed course of action. Billy was de¬ 
lighted that, at last, McCarthy was again to assume 
control of the operation. He was so delighted, in¬ 
deed, that he sprang up from the table and danced 
a jig, and slapped McCarthy with a big hand. 

“ I’m right with you, boss! ” he exclaimed. 
“ All of us old men have been hopin’ we could help 
to stop the waste, and get things goin’ right again.” 

“ Now that Jim has said the wurrud we’ll do 
it,” grinned McCarthy. “ I’ve been only waitin’ 
for Jim to tell me.” 


228 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“ It’s nearly five o’clock. Suppose we go over,” 
suggested Jim. 

“ I’m sayin’ the same,” and McCarthy arose. 

The three filed out, and following the path to 
the bunk house, a hundred yards to the westward, 
entered the long, low building. A dozen men were 
lounging around the stove, smoking, while they 
awaited the cook’s call to supper. All of them 
were new hands brought in by Dawes the previous 
summer. They were millwrights, or other skilled 
mill workers, and on the whole superior to the lum¬ 
berjacks whom Jim had observed on the steamer. 

“ Hello, Pat,” one of them greeted. “ I thought 
you were up at Number Three ? ” 

“ Sometimes I do be there and sometimes I 
ain’t,” answered McCarthy. “ Where’s Dawes ? ” 

“ In the kitchen,” said the man. “ It’s warmer 
there than it is here, and he likes to keep warm 
and mingle with his own society.” 

At that moment the door leading to the kitchen 
opened and Dawes himself appeared in the door- 
w r ay. As his eyes fell upon Jim his face broke 
into the unpleasant, mocking smile that Jim had 
observed when he met him on the deck of the Gray 
Goose. 

“ Got back, did you, young feller ? Had quite 
a lay-off,” he greeted. “ Ready to go to work 
now ? ” 

“ That’s what I’m here for,” said Jim. 

“ Did your job all right with Indian Jake, I 
hear. Fine place back in the mountains for them 
jobs. Nobody ever finds any corpses left up there.” 
Dawes moved down into the room. 


THE CHALLENGE 


229 


“ What do you mean to insinuate? ” asked Jim, 
his face flushing. 

“ Oh, you know well enough what I mean.” 
Dawes winked, while the grin continued. 

“ If you mean to insinuate that I did any harm 
to Indian Jake,” exclaimed Jim, “ it’s false, and 
you know it’s false! I’ve heard something of the 
stories you’ve been circulating, and they must 
stop.” 

“ That’s just what I insinuate,” grinned Dawes. 
“ I guess I’m about right in sayin’ it too, and I 
don’t take ‘ must ’ from any man.” 

“ You know when you say it,” Jim’s voice was 
tense, “ that it is untrue! You are deliberately 
saying what you know is false! ” 

“ I don’t take that from any man neither that’s 
workin’ for me or from anybody else! ” Dawes 
glared at Jim angrily. “ I’m goin’ to give you the 
worst lickin’ you ever had, young feller, for sayin’ 
it. And just because you won’t be in any condi¬ 
tion to hear what I’ve got to say when I get through' 
lickin’ you, I’ll tell you now that you ain’t goin’ 
to work on this operation, and the sooner you get 
out of camp the healthier it’ll be for you.” 

Jim had recovered his composure, and looking 
Dawes in the eye, smiled defiance. Then Dawes, 
like a blast from a cyclone, hurled himself at Jim. 
The men at the stove sprang to their feet. Mc¬ 
Carthy and Billy stepped forward to interfere. 
Dawes struck for Jim’s face, and simultaneously 
came the sharp spat of a fist in contact with flesh. 


XXIII 

THE FIGHT IX THE BUHK HOUSE 


I T all occurred so quickly that not a man there 
could have told how it came about. Every 
one expected to see Jim crumpled under the 
sledgehammer blow dealt by Dawes. But there 
Jim stood, while Dawes was stretched upon the 
floor. Dawes had aimed his fist at Jim’s face, and 
the aim had apparently been straight enough; but 
Jim’s face was not where it should have been, or 
where Dawes expected it would be, when the fist 
arrived, and Jim’s left, in a lightning uppercut, 
had caught Dawes on the chin. 

The men around the stove were talking wildly. 
Billy, who was aware of Jim’s ability as a boxer, 
grinned with satisfaction. McCarthy, quite beside 
himself with excitement, was shouting at Jim, as 
though Jim were deaf, though he stood at his 
elbow: 

“ Let me finish him, lad! It’s me own job, lad! 
Give me a whack at the durthy thug! ” 

“ Keep out of this, Pat! ” Jim warned. 

“ Finish him up! Give him all he’s been afther! 
He was sphoilin’ for a fight! Give him his belly 
full! If yez can’t do it I will! ’Tis yez own 
fight, but let me at him! ” yelled McCarthy wildly. 

“ When he’s on his feet and ready I’ll take care 
230 


THE FIGHT IN THE BUNK HOUSE 231 


of him alone, unless lie’s had enough,” said Jim, 
quietly. “ This is my fight.” 

It would have been lumberjack tactics for him 
to have followed up his advantage by pummelling 
Dawes while he was down. But Jim’s ethics in 
the ring demanded that his opponent be on his feet 
in a position of defence, before he should attempt 
to strike again. 

Men like fair play. Even the most depraved ad¬ 
mire courage. When Jim knocked Dawes down, 
he, as well as McCarthy and Billy, expected that 
Dawes’ men would attack them. But while they 
were men that Dawes had employed, they were 
artisans, quite superior to the gang of thugs Jagger 
had sent to the woods as lumberjacks. They were 
men trained in a rough school, but they were men 
of honour. 

Jim had fearlessly faced Dawes, who every man 
in the camp, save McCarthy, feared. When he 
knocked Dawes down he did not take advantage of 
the fact by beating him while he was down. Here 
was fair play and courage. By a single stroke, 
Jim had won the respect and admiration of them 
all, and with one accord they kept their hands off. 

Dawes, bellowing like an angry bull, was up, 
and like a wild animal he hurled his great body at 
Jim again. Every one expected Jim to be swept 
down by the rush. McCarthy, quivering with emo¬ 
tion, both fists clenched, held himself in leash with 
the greatest effort. Billy was hopping about ex¬ 
citedly, yelling at Jim: “ Give it to him! Give 
him the left hook! ” In spite of Jim’s size, Dawes 
had decidedly the advantage of weight, and his life 


232 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 


in the lumber woods bad made bim as bard as iron. 

But again Jim was not where Dawes expected 
be would be, and a straight right, delivered on 
Dawes’ mouth, stopped a fluent flow of oaths, and 
caused Dawes to spit out two teeth. Dawes was 
a slugger, who fought by the force of weight and 
strength. He knew nothing of guarding, and de¬ 
pended upon his cyclonic rushes to overcome his 
opponent. 

“ Make her a square fight for a knock-out! ” 
suggested one of Dawes’ men, while Dawes occu¬ 
pied himself spitting blood. “ Pat, you be referee. 
I’ll be your second, Mr. Dawes, and Billy you be 
second for the kid.” 

“ That suits me,” said Jim, turning toward the 
man. 

Dawes saw Jim turn, and an opening. Quick 
as a cat, he struck at Jim’s head. Jim caught the 
movement out of the corner of his eye, and ducked, 
but he was too late to wholly miss the blow. 
Dawes’ right caught the top of his head. He stag¬ 
gered back, and stumbling upon a rough plank, fell. 

Dawes, like a maniac, sprang at him and kicked 
viciously at his ribs. Jim flopped, and hitched 
forward, as the kick was delivered. The movement 
saved his body, but the kick, with partially spent 
force, caught him below the thigh. 

Hank Grump, one of Dawes’ men, leaped for¬ 
ward and caught Dawes by the collar, jerking him 
back, shouting as he did so: 

“ No kickin’, boss! We’ll have a fair fight 
here!” 

Dawes, angry as a caged lion, swung about and 


THE FIGHT IN THE BUNK HOUSE 233 


struck the man squarelv in the face, and, half 
whining, followed the blow with a string of oaths. 

Jim was already on his feet. Dawes drove at 
him with a great iron fist, Jim ducked. Dawes 
charged, flailing with big fists. Jim dodged. 
Dawes was playing for his face, but the face was 
never in the expected place. Suddenly, taking ad¬ 
vantage of an opening, Jim’s right shot out and 
caught Dawes directly above the belt. It happened 
so quickly that none saw exactly how it was done. 
There was an uh-ssh and gurgle. Dawes’ tanned 
and blood-spattered face turned a sickly ashen-gray, 
and he collapsed with the breath knocked out of 
him. 

Dawes did not offer to rise. It was a complete 
and final knock-out. Pat McCarthy, with a grin, 
seized Jim’s hand: 

“ Foine wurruk, Jim ! And I was thinkin’ when 
yez hit him first off I’d have to finish the job for 
yez! I never knew yez could fight, Jim! Yez 
sure do be a wondther! ” 

“I wasn’t scared about Jim!” broke in Billy, 
taking Jim’s hand from McCarthy. “ He’s a 
trained boxer! He’s a real champeen! Didn’t you 
know that ? ” 

“ I niver saw the likes of it! ” declared Mc¬ 
Carthy jubilantly. 

“ I’m not so much of a boxer, but I learned a 
little about it at college. Dawes don’t know any¬ 
thing about boxing,” Jim grinned. “ I did make 
the boxing championship in college, but just among 
the boys. That’s what Billy means.” 

“ If that’s w T hat they teach in college,” said Me- 


234 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


Carthy enthusiastically, “ ivery man should have 
a college iducation.” 

Each of the men, in turn, shook Jim’s hand. 
Brawn and courage were their idols. Jim had 
won not only their admiration, but their friendship 
and loyalty. 

Hank Grump, the man Dawes had struck down, 
was bitter in his expressions against Dawes. Jim 
thanked him for preventing the infuriated Dawes 
from probably breaking his ribs with the attempted 
second kick. 

“ ’Twa’n’t nothin’,” declared Grump through 
swollen lips. “ What I ought to have done to the 
beast was to smack him in the head first off. I 
suppose he’ll try to fire me out of camp now, when 
he comes to, and maybe the hull lot of us that’s 
here, and set us out in this God-forsaken land for 
not poundin’ the hull three of you up. That’s 
what he expected of us. But I don’t care. I’ll 
make out without him. He told us when he hired 
us that he wanted us to fight the old gang that was 
here ahead of us when he got ready to kick you 
fellers out. We were ready to fight fair, but not 
his kind of fightin’.” 

“ Yez niver will be sint out whilst I’m superin- 
tindent,” announced McCarthy. “ I’m a partner 
in the operation, and from this day I’m superin- 
tindent. I’m back on me job in that capacity, be¬ 
cause Jim here tells me I am. 

“ I have a conthract signed by Misther MacLean, 
and duly delivered to me, before he wint and got 
lost in the mountains. The conthract makes me 
partner and superintindent for two years more. 


THE FIGHT IN THE BUNK HOUSE 235 


“ I stepped out first off whin Dawes came 
thinkin’ Jim here, who is the real owner and me 
real boss, sint him, or wished him here in me place. 
Whin Jim said ‘ no ’ he didn’t want him, and tould 
me so day before yisterday, that satisfied me. I 
came here to-night to lick Dawes and take back 
me job. Jim done the lickin’ and took the pleas¬ 
ure of doin’ it meself from me. But now I’m 
superintindent of the operation, and if anny man 
here denies it, let him say so to me face.” 

None of them denied it. On the contrary each 
of them separately acknowledged McCarthy as 
their superintendent from whom they would take 
future orders. McCarthy grinned appreciatingly. 

“ In the marnin’, Hank Grump,” McCarthy di¬ 
rected, “yez may go over to the new camp and 
tell the min there that I’m superintindent and boss 
of things hereabouts from henceforward. And tell 
thim that whin things are set runnin’ to me likin’ 
here and at the old camps, I’ll be droppin’ in to 
see thim.” 

“ Very well, boss, I’ll go,” acknowledged Grump. 

“And Sam Coon,” he addressed the mill boss, 
“ I’ll go over with yez in the marnin’ to see what’s 
takin’ place in the mill.” 

Dawes, whose knock-out had lasted five minutes, 
sat up as a result of Jim’s efforts to restore him. 
He had evidently had his senses and his ears open 
for some time, and had been simulating uncon¬ 
sciousness. 

“What’s this you’re saying?” he asked, as he 
arose upon wabbly legs. “ I’m superintendent here 


236 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 


yet! Even if I did get knocked out by trickery, 
I’m boss here! ” 

“ Yez sure do be lookin’ ivery inch of it! ” 
McCarthy guffawed, as Dawes’ swollen and bloody 
face fell under the lamplight. “ Go wash yezself, 
and thin I’ll be tellin’ yez what I’ll be doin’ with 
yez if yez promise to be good from now on hince- 
forward.” 

“ You’re discharged!” roared Dawes. “ You’ll 
get out of camp with this fellow to-night! ” indi¬ 
cating Jim with a contemptuous wave of the hand. 
“ And Hank Grump, you go too! You other men, 
fire these three out at once! ” 

Not a man moved, or gave outward evidence of 
having heard. 

“ Aisy now! Be aisy, me man! ” McCarthy 
leaned back upon his seat. “ I’d niver demean me- 
self by lickin’ a groggy man, though yez deserves 
another lickin’, and ’tis meself should administher 
it. But I’ll take the throuble to explain instid just 
where we stand. 

“ I’m superintindent and a partner in this opera¬ 
tion. Jagger do be having no supervision of me 
by law or otherwise. Me conthract was duly 
signed and delivered by Misther James MacLean 
before he disappeared. I’ve learned what me 
rights may be, and from hinceforward on I’ll stand 
by thim. 

“ All the wages due yezself and the min Jagger 
sint here be due yez all from Jagger personally, 
and not from the operation. Yez do be an inter¬ 
loper, if yez know what that means. If I let yez 
shtay, ’twill be by sufferance, and because T’d feel 


THE FIGHT IN THE BUNK HOUSE 237 


sorry for the community, and what yez might do 
to the poor people of the bay, if I turned yez loose 
to shift for yezself. 

“ I’ll make a bargain with the crowd of yez, and 
keep yez on till the ship comes, but ivery mother’s 
son of yez will have to wurruk.” 

“ I guess you will! ” blustered Dawes. “ If 
that’s the way of it, and you have a valid contract, 
which I don’t believe, you can’t put me or my men 
out of the new camps. MacLean never filed a sur¬ 
vey of that section, and it’s no part of this opera¬ 
tion. It’s mine and Jagger’s. I don’t believe you 
have a contract, and if you haven’t you’ll sweat for 
this. You’ve got the best of me here, but my men 
over in my camps will stand by me.” 

“ I have the conthract, and iny man that wants 
to see it in good faith may see it iny time he comes 
to me. If thim new camps belongs to yezself and 
Jagger, there’s a bill forthcoming herewith for pro¬ 
visions delivered to thim. Do yez understand that, 
me man ? ” 

“ You’ll have a good time collecting it,” Dawes 
growled. 

“ We’ll collect it, and don’t let that throuble yez 
slumbers wan bit.” McCarthy grinned. “ Now 
git out of here and wash up for supper. We’re all 
feelin’ a call from our insides for nourishment, and 
if yez wants to eat with respectable min, go and 
make yezself respectable lookin’.” 

Dawes made no reply. He sullenly lingered for 
a few moments, and then passed through the door 
leading into the kitchen and mess room. 

“ 'Some of the men won’t stay by him,” remarked 


238 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


Sam Coon, “ but the most of them came here to 
fight and not' to work, and if he finds a way to feed 
them, he’ll hold them. I guess he’s transferred 
enough grub over there to feed them. You’ll have 
trouble on your hands from now on.” 

“ I niver throubles throuble till throuble throu- 
bles me,” said McCarthy. “ We’ll wait and see.” 

“ It’ll trouble you all right,” predicted Coon, 
“ and there’ll be plenty of it, unless you make a 
prisoner of Dawes and hold him here while you 
have him.” 

“ I’ll make no prisoner of anny man. We’ll let 
him go whin he chooses, and tell him to stay away.” 


XXIV 

A FIRE AXD A ROBBERY 


AY, Dawes has lit out!” Isaac Mills, the 
camp cook, was in the door. “ He didn’t 
wait to eat. Supper’s ready.” 

“ Which way did he go ? ” asked Billy anxiously, 
rising to his feet. 

“ I didn’t notice,” said Isaac. “ He just put 
on his things and went, and didn’t say a word.” 

“ I’ll bet he’s gone over to the store! He’ll clean 
the cash out’n the safe! He knows the combina¬ 
tion ! ” And Billy rushed for the door, followed 
by McCarthy and Jim. 

They ran down the trail to the store, and were 
just in time to see a light flare up in the window. 
Upon entering, they found Dawes, with a lamp 
on a chair by his side, kneeling at the safe and 
working the combination. 

“ Thryin’ to rob the Sthore, be yez! ” blurted 
McCarthy. “ Is robbin’ the business yez were in 
before Jagger sint yez here ? ” 

Dawes sprang to his feet and faced them. For 
a moment he said nothing. Then he almost 
shouted: 

“ I’m the rightful superintendent of this opera¬ 
tion! You are the robber! There’s money and 
papers in that safe that belong to me! I’m going 
to take them ! 99 

“ I’m the rightful superintindent here,” said 
McCarthy. u What’s in that safe do be property 
and papers belongin’ to the business and not to anny- 
239 


240 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


body else. If by chance Billy finds annything be¬ 
longin’ to yez, Dawes, he’ll be lettin’ yez have it. 
No wan but Billy and meself can look into that 
safe.” 

“ I demand my property! ” insisted Dawes. “ I 
demand it now. There’s wages due me, and there’s 
money in there that belongs to me personally. It’s 
my own personal property. My personal papers 
are there. I demand to have the papers and money 
now.” 

“ Yez’ll not be gettin’ wan thing now, but if we 
find annything there that belongs rightfully to yez, 
we’ll give it all to yez. Now begone out from 
here! ” thundered McCarthy, adding in a milder 
tone: “ Yez washed up, I see, and we’ll be lettin’ 
yez eat with us. The cook says grub’s ready. 
Now go over to the cook house and eat peaceably.” 

“ You can’t keep my property,” growled Dawes, 
as he reluctantly moved out of the door, and to the 
cook house, with the others following. 

No one spoke to Dawes, and he ate his meal 
silently and sullenly, and when he was through he 
sat alone and smoked his pipe. In spite of all that 
had happened, McCarthy felt sorry for the man, 
and before he left with Billy and Jim to spend the 
night with them in Billy’s quarters, he said: 

“ In the marnin’, Dawes, we’ll have a talk, man 
to man, and maybe we can come to an under- 
sthandin’ that will make yez feel bether about it. 
I’m not a hard man, though I demand me rights.” 

Dawes stared into space, and neither spoke nor 
gave evidence of having heard McCarthy, and Mc¬ 
Carthy left him. 



UPON ENTERING, THEY FOUND DAWES KNEELING AT THE SAFE 














A FIRE AND A ROBBERY 


241 


An examination of the inner compartment of the 
safe, which they were compelled to force open, for 
Dawes had the key, disclosed cash to the amount 
of twenty-two thousand dollars. This was evi¬ 
dently reserved for wages. In an unsealed package 
marked “ personal ” was an additional four hun¬ 
dred dollars. McCarthy, accompanied by Jim, took 
this to the bunk house and delivered it to Dawes, 
wlio accepted it without comment and thrust it into 
his pocket. 

Numerous papers were discovered. There were 
copies of the surveys of the property, together with 
important memoranda concerning the work, which 
McCarthy had delivered to Dawes, when the latter 
took possession. But of chief interest were a half- 
dozen letters from Jagger to Dawes. They were 
so carefully worded that none was of a character 
that could be directly used against the writer as 
incriminating evidence if he were charged with 
malfeasance in the administration of his trust 
Dawes was directed in all of them to make an un-, 
remitting search for the papers supposed to have 
been secreted in the cave. In the letter of latest 
date, Iagger wrote: 

“ If you find this package, and if it contains the 
papers of which I told you at the time of our final 
conference in my office before your departure for 
Labrador, as I have no doubt it does, there will be 
a reward of five thousand dollars for you.” 

Another letter urged that Dawes “ make every 
effort to bring about the turn of affairs concerning 
the logging camps and mill that was desired.” In 
this letter he reminded Dawes that it was to his 


242 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


advantage to work for this end as he was to be ad¬ 
mitted as a partner “ in a future enterprise,” with 
a one-third interest if he “ proved himself com¬ 
petent in his present position.” 

In a letter dated two days earlier than Jim’s 
departure from home, Jagger stated that Jim 
might arrive on the ship, though it was to be hoped 
that he would decide to remain in college. It di¬ 
rected that if Jim appeared, he was to be put at 
work as a lumberjack, and to be shown no favours 
and granted no privileges that other men did not 
enjoy, and if the least reason arose to do so, he 
was to be discharged and evicted from the prop¬ 
erty. It further urged that Dawes find cause, as 
early as possible, to dismiss McCarthy and those 
of the old men who might cause trouble, “ because 
these men, as well as young MacLean and McCar¬ 
thy, might interfere with the administration of the 
business as we have planned it, and success de¬ 
mands no interference.” 

“ The durthy scoundrel! ” exclaimed McCarthy. 
“ We all know now that what we suspicioned is 
thrue.” 

“ Well, we seem to have headed them off,” said 
Jim, “ unless they’ve already done enough to sink 
the business.” 

“Rest aisy on that, Jim,” assured McCarthy. 
“ We’ll have a full cargo of sawn lumber for Cap¬ 
tain Dobbs whin he comes in the spring.” 

“ I wonder what those papers can be that Jagger 
■is so anxious about?” suggested Jim. 

“ There’s no tellin’,” said McCarthy, “ but be 


A FIRE AND A ROBBERY 


243 


aisy on that too. Misther MacLean niver put anny 
papers of value in anny place of that sort.” 

“ I’m not sure about that,” and Jim shook his 
head dubiously. “ There are a lot of papers and 
securities missing.” 

Dawes was gone when they went to the cook 
house before daylight in the morning. He had 
eaten a hasty breakfast, the cook announced, and 
departed before the men were about. 

“ Hank,” said McCarthy, “ there’ll be no wis¬ 
dom in yez goin’ to Dawes’ camps on Deep Creek 
to tell the min, as I directed last evenin’. If yez 
shows yez face there Dawes’ll have mincemeat 
made of yez.” 

“ I was kinder expectin’ a scrap if I went,” ad¬ 
mitted Hank with evident relief. 

Dawes was ominously silent during the weeks 
that followed. He did not return to visit either 
the mill or the camps. During February three of 
his men appeared and asked McCarthy to give them 
work; and early in March four more appeared 
with a like request. These men complained of 
poor food in Dawes’ camp, and reported two or 
three cases of scurvy. They were some of the best 
men Dawes had, and McCarthy employed them. 

Jim had been assigned to Number One camp, 
situated on the Grampus River and three miles 
above the mill. He insisted upon receiving no 
favours. 

u Dad asked me in his letter to learn the business 
from the ground up,” he told McCarthy. u That 
means working as a lumberjack, with no privileges 
I’m for it.” 


244 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


He began as a swamper, then he was on the log- 
haul and on the brow, and by the middle of Feb¬ 
ruary he had become a chopper. He was tanned 
as brown as an Indian, his hands developed the cal¬ 
louses he had predicted for them that day as he 
stood on the hill in Highville, and body and mus¬ 
cles had developed until he was as hard as iron. 
His brain, too, was busy. He knew how to figure 
and estimate timber, and he was absorbing much 
other useful information about logging operations. 

McCarthy was busy. The half-hearted, slipshod 
methods that were in vogue in the camps when he 
assumed control in the beginning of January, at 
once gave place to almost feverish energy. The 
woods rang with the strokes of axmen. He found 
chaos in the mill, with machinery dismantled and 
in confusion. Before the first of March everything 
was in order and the mill working at capacity. 

Thus things ran smoothly until the beginning of 
May, when the midday sun was growing warm and 
softening and settling the snow. The days were 
growing long, and it was Jim’s custom now and 
again to snowshoe down to the store on a Saturday 
evening, when the week’s work was finished, and 
spend the night and Sunday with Billy Hand, and 
McCarthy sometimes joined them. 

It was on one of these occasions, on a Saturday 
evening in the beginning of May, that Jim sug¬ 
gested to McCarthy that he would like a few days 
leave from camp that he might make a search for 
the cave. 

“ ’Twill be all right, b’y. Yez have earned the 
lay-off, and ’twill make yez aisier in moind,” 


A FIRE AND A ROBBERY 


245 


agreed McCarthy. “ But yez can’t go alone, and 
I have no min now I can spare to go with yez. 
The thrappin’ is indeed for the winther, and I 
would suggest that yez hire Pether Sparks and 
David Angus to go with yez. Pether and Lige do 
be over in the bunk house now, listenin’ to the 
yarns of the min. Have them go to The Jug to¬ 
morrow with their dogs to fetch David, and then 
yez can make the sthart for the cave on Monday 
marnin’. The tote team can take yez all up to 
Number Three.” 

“ Thank you,” said Jim, “ I’ll do it.” 

Jim found Peter and Lige in the bunk house, 
and the arrangement was made. Both boys were 
anxious to take part in the adventure, and both 
offered to accompany him and to get David to join 
them also. 

“ We’ll be goin’ for David in the marnin’ and 
have he here in the evenin’,” promised Peter. 

Jim returned to the store, and he and McCarthy 
and Billy were discussing his proposed trip a half- 
hour later, when one of the men burst in upon 
them, shouting: 

“ The mill’s on fire!” 

They ran out and over to the mill, where they 
discovered the fire in the western end. The mill 
men, using poles as battering rams, were knocking 
the blazing boards from the studding. A half- 
hour’s work succeeded in extinguishing the fire, 
with no serious damage to the building. 

There were undoubted evidences that the fire had 
been deliberately started. Rubbish had been piled 
against the end of the building and lighted. This. 


246 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


was the end farthest from the bunk house, and or¬ 
dinarily the fire would have attained such head¬ 
way before discovery that no effort could have 
saved the mill from destruction. Fortunately, Sam 
Coon had gone to the mill for something he had 
left there upon discontinuing work that evening, 
and discovering the fire had given the alarm. 

“ Some of the durthy wurruk of that man 
Dawes! ” said McCarthy, wiping the perspiration 
from his forehead with his sleeve. “ Set a guarrud, 
Sam, and niver leave the mill again without a 
guarrud.” 

“ Dawes seems to be getting restless,” said Jim, 
as he returned to the store with McCarthy and 
Billy. “ It’s getting better weather, and he’s start¬ 
ing in to show us that he’s still on the job.” 

“ He’s afraid to foight in the open! ” said Mc¬ 
Carthy. “ His camp is in bad shape with poor 
grub, and he’s short of funds to pay his min, or 
to buy more grub, and with thim that left him to 
come to us, he’s short handed.” 

Billy opened the store door, and as he entered, 
almost shouted: 

“ Robbed!” 

The safe was open and some of its contents were 
scattered upon the floor. A hasty examination re¬ 
vealed the fact that the money which it contained, 
Jagger’s letters and the copies of the surveys were 
missing. 


XXV 

THE LUMBERJACKS BATTLE 


R UX over, Jim, and tell Sam Coon what’s 
happened, and ask him to sind some min 
here at once, with snowshoes,” McCar¬ 
thy directed, “ and tell thim to bring a lanthem.” 

Jim ran to the bunk house, to which all the men 
except the guard had returned, and delivering his 
message hastened hack, followed by Coon and ten 
men. 

“ Some of you take the lanthern and see which 
way the robbers wint,” directed McCarthy. “ The 
snow will lave a clear trail. We’ll follow thim.” 

“ Four men,” reported the men with the lantern. 
“ They’ve gone to the west’ard.” 

“ I thought so,” said McCarthy. “ They’ve 
made for Deep Creek and the camp where Dawes 
makes his headquarters, I’ll be bound. If Dawes 
has all his min in wan camp there’ll be but twinty 
with himself, as I make me calculation. Takin’ 
out you and your gang, Sam, and the min that staid 
here and those that came over aftherward, from his 
original forty-two that’s what I make it. Is that 
right, Sam ? ” 

“ That’s about it,” agreed Sam after some cal¬ 
culation. 

“ Here’s fourteen av us,” McCarthy counted. 
“ We’d bether leave the cook to guard the mill, and 
247 


248 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


Billy bether shtay here and watch the sthore, 
though I’m not expectin’ anny wan will be back to¬ 
night to throuble us. We’ve got to recover that 
money and the papers. That was the money and 
all we had to pay the min’s wages, and we’ll have 
to get it back. And the papers are important.” 

“ I want to get in on any scrap,” Billy com¬ 
plained, “ and not be left back here suckin’ my 
thumb. There’s goin’ to be a scrap all right, for 
Dawes won’t give back our money without a fight. 
You’ll need everyone of us. The store will be safe 
enough if I go.” 

“ Hi, there, and who’s thim! Pether and Bige 
Sparks! The saints bless yez, b’ys! Whin did 
yez come ? I thought yez wint home.” 

u We were just startin’, sir,” explained Peter, 
<l when we heard the men yellin’ about the fire, and 
we comes back.” 

“ Pether, you and Lige shtay in the sthore, and 
thin Billy can come along with us and have the 
joy of sharin’ in catchin’ thim robbers in their 
cave. And see to it yez keeps the sthore safe, 
whilst we’re all away.” 

“ We’ll be doin’ our best, sir,” promised Peter. 

“ And if yez be attacked,” said McCarthy jocu¬ 
larly, “ there’s me own huntin’ rifle in the sthore, 
and Billy’s is there too. But yez’ll be seein’ no 
wan,” he added to relieve the boys of any anxiety 
his suggestion might cause. 

“ Now,” continued McCarthy, addressing the 
men, “ we’ll go back to the mill and arrum our¬ 
selves with canthook handles or anny good clubs we 
may find. We’ll not throuble to look for the tracks 


THE LUMBERJACKS BATTLE 


249 


the robbers made. We’ll be goin’ straight to the 
camp on Deep Creek, and there we’ll find the gang 
we’re afther.” 

In the mill Jim and Billy, as well as McCarthy 
and every man of them armed themselves with the 
best weapons they could lay their hand upon. The 
cook was directed to do sentinel duty in the mill, 
and with McCarthy in the lead the party threaded 
away toward Deep Creek on snowshoes, traveling 
in single file. A belated moon was just rising, to 
light the forest, as they left the mill, and in the 
moonlight they discovered the fresh snowshoe 
tracks of four men, leading toward the mill. 

“ Here’s how the durthy firebugs and robbers 
came,” remarked McCarthy. “ They’ve likely 
gone back another way. We’ll find thim in camp. 
They had a good start, and they’ll be there ahead 
of us.” 

“Wisht!” warned McCarthy, when they had 
been nearly two hours on the trail. “ There’s the 
camp. We’ll sneak up and burrust in on thim. 
There’s a light burnin’.” 

The moon was well up now, and the clearing 
around the camp was nearly as light as day. Cau¬ 
tiously and noiselessly they approached the bunk 
house door. Here McCarthy halted and waited for 
his men to close in and take off their snowshoes as 
they entered the area in front of the building, 
where the snow was packed hard by trampling feet. 
His hand was upon the door, ready for the rush 
inside, when from each end of the building, men 
armed like themselves, sprang at them. 

It was plain that McCarthy’s raid had been ex- 


250 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


pected. Pickets had been posted by the Dawes 
men, and an alarm given, with the result that the 
Dawes men were ready and waiting, and McCarthy 
and his men were ambushed and taken at a disad¬ 
vantage. They had barely time to spread and take 
the defensive. 

Three of McCarthy’s men were down before they 
could disentangle themselves. McCarthy himself, 
yelling with the joy of battle, wielded his club 
right and left. Billy Hand was little less noisy 
and little less terrible. 

It was evident from the beginning that the 
Dawes men were centering their attack upon Mc¬ 
Carthy and Jim. While McCarthy and Billy 
Hand, backed against the building and side by side 
were in a fairly good position for defence, Jim 
found himself separated and surrounded by half 
a dozen of his enemies. He was much quicker on 
his feet than they, and this alone made it possible 
for him to keep them at bay for a time, as 
he fought silently and desperately, as he believed, 
for his life. Presently the end of a club grazed 
his forehead and broke the skin. He could feel 
the warm blood trickling down his cheek. Then a 
terrific blow caught him upon the left arm, and 
only a timely charge against his assailants by Sam 
Coon and two of the mill men saved him. 

The Dawes men were apparently without a 
leader, and presently began to draw off, each man 
for himself, with McCarthy and his men after 
them, when some one called for quarter. 

“ We’ll let up on yez,” answered McCarthy, “ if 
yez turn Dawes over to us for proper chastisement. 


THE LUMBERJACKS BATTLE 


251 


’Tis meself wants to get me hands on him for 
thryin’ to burn our mill, and he must turn over 
the money and papers he stole from the sthore! ” 

“ He ain’t here,” shouted the spokesman of the 
Hawes gang. “ He ain’t come back yet. He said 
he was goin’ over to your place to start somethin’, 
and told us to be on the lookout for you fellers, and 
if you showed up to get you and the young feller.” 

The parley continued for several minutes, and, 
finally, by blandishments and promises to do them 
no harm, the men agreed to lay down their clubs 
and enter the bunk house. 

Here, after much questioning, McCarthy drew 
from them a statement of Hawes’ plans. He was 
to fire the mill, and during the excitement that fol¬ 
lowed, rob the safe and then, with the three men 
he had taken with him, make a feint at returning 
to Heep Creek. 

It was expected that McCarthy would gather 
every available man, as he had done, and follow 
to Heep Creek. When McCarthy and his men were 
well out of the way, Hawes and his three assist¬ 
ants were to return to the store, remove to a safe 
place and secrete as much of the stock, particularly 
much needed clothing, as they could carry away in 
an hour, and then fire the store and other buildings. 

“ Houly saints! ” exclaimed McCarthy. “They’ll 
get the best of Pether and Lige in the sthore, and 
the cook over in the mill, and have the whole place 
burruned up before we can get there. 

“ Jim, you and Billy and two other min of you 
come along with me! Sam Coon, you and the 
others of you foiler along with our injured min 


252 THE TESTING OF JIM MACLEAN 


and get thim back to camp as soon as you can, 
though I’m not expectin* to find iny camp there.” 

McCarthy and his followers hurried out, donned 
their snowshoes and ran on the back trail toward 
Grampus River. 


XXVI 

THE EAID OX THE STOKE 

W HEN the men had gone, Peter and 
Lige examined McCarthy’s and Billy’s 
rifles. Firearms were always of par¬ 
ticular interest to them, as they were to their 
father, and are to every man who earns his living 
by hunting. Billy’s rifle was a thirty-thirty, just 
like Doctor Joe’s. They had fired Doctor Joe’s 
rifle many times, and were familiar with it. 

But McCarthy’s took their attention. It was a 
larger gun, and had a box magazine, and was a 
much more powerful gun than the other. On the 
barrel was stamped “.30 IT. S. Model 1903.” 

“ ’Tis a new kind and a big un,” remarked 
Peter. “ She’ll shoot wonderful hard, now. I’d 
like to try un on a deer, whatever .” 

“ She’d be fine for white bear,” suggested Eige. 

“ The best gun I ever saw for white bear! ” 
agreed Peter. 

The boys were standing at the rear end of a long 
counter that extended the length of the store, and 
was at the left of the door, reaching from the door 
to the rear, with a passageway around each end. 
The thirty-thirty rifle was leaning against the wall 
behind them, at the rear end of the counter. 

“ The fire’s needin’ wood, Lige. Put un on, 

will you ? ” suggested Peter. 

253 


254 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


The stove was in the center of the room. Lige 
left Peter admiring the big rifle, while he renewed 
the fire. He opened the door of the big box stove, 
threw in some billets of wood, and had just closed 
it when the store door opened, and there stood 
Dawes and his three men. 

Dawes was armed with a rifle, and was evidently 
surprised to find the two boys in possession of the 
store, and they were quite as surprised to see him 
and his men. 

Lige stood where he was, by the stove, and 
stared. Peter, in a twinkling, kneeling behind the 
counter, had Dawes and his men covered by the 
big rifle. 

“ Drop the gun you has, and put up your 
hands! ” commanded Peter. 

Dawes did not move. 

“ Drop un! ” commanded Peter. “ If you don’t 
drop un, I’ll shoot! ” 

Still Dawes, well knowing that any attempt to 
raise his rifle would be fatal, but reluctant to obey, 
made no move. 

“ Would you kill a man who has done nothing 
to you ? ” asked Dawes. 

“ I’d kill you and you makes a move! ” Peter’s 
voice was tense. 

“What’s the matter with you?” asked Dawes, 
fencing for time. “We ain’t done you any harm.” 

“ We’re guardin’ the store,” said Peter. “ You 
robbed un to-night, and I’m not doubtin’ you’re 
cornin’ now to do more harm.” 

“We took what belonged to us, and what was 
taken from me by force, and that was all,” Dawes 


THE RAID ON THE STORE 


255 


argued. “ Fm the rightful superintendent, and 
Fm goin’ to have what’s mine.” 

“ You were settin’ fire to the mill, and honest 
men don’t burn buildin’s,” Peter charged. 

“ I didn’t set fire to the mill,” Dawes lied. 

“ No talkin’! ” commanded Peter. “ Put down 
that gun before I shoots! ” 

“ You wouldn’t shoot, now? ” Dawes parleyed. 

“ I’ll be shootin’, and you keeps on talkin’ and 
don’t put down the gun! ” declared Peter with an 
earnestness that was impressive. 

Dawes stared at Peter in silence. 

“ I’ll be countin’ twenty,” said Peter, “ and if 
you’re not puttin’ the gun down when I says 
6 twenty ’ I’ll shoot! ” 

Still Dawes and the three men stood like statues. 

“ One-two-three-four-five,” Peter counted in 
quick succession. 

“ You wouldn’t, now, would you ? ” interrupted 
Dawes. 

“ Aye, sure I’ll shoot. Six-seven-eight-nine-ten. 
This is a wonderful strong shootin’ gun! ’Twill 
blow a big hole in you! ” Peter paused to observe 
the result of this statement. 

Dawes stood, with an insolent grin on his face, 
and with no show of fear. 

“ Eleven-twelve—” Peter was counting more 
slowly now. “ Thirteen-fourteen! Stop that or 
I’ll shoot before I counts twenty! ” 

Dawes had made a slight movement toward rais¬ 
ing his rifle. 

“ Fifteen-sixteen—” 


256 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“ You fool livyere! ” roared Dawes. “ Do you 
think you’re scarin’ me ? ” 

“ Seventeen-eighteen-nineteen! And when I says 
twenty, I shoots! ” Peter’s face was drawn and 
tense. 

“ Stop! ” yelled Dawes, who saw the look of 
stern purpose. “ I’ll give the gun to Lige! ” 

“ Take un, Lige! ” Peter directed, with evident 
relief. 

Lige stepped forward to receive the gun. 

In an instant, quick as a panther, Dawes grabbed 
Lige in his arms, and holding him as a shield to 
his own body, yelled: 

“ Drop, men! ” 

The three men with Dawes dropped in front of 
the counter, and were there out of range of Peter’s 
rifle. Lige struggled valiantly in Dawes’ arms, but 
his efforts to free himself were futile in the power¬ 
ful, iron grasp. 

Beads of cold perspiration stood out on Peter’s 
forehead. He was beaten. He could not shoot 
without endangering Lige. 

“ Take a chance, Peter, and shoot un! ” Yelled 
Lige as he struggled. “ Shoot un!. I ain’t afeared 1 
Shoot!” 

But Peter would not shoot. The risk was quite 
too great, for Dawes held Lige high enough to 
prove a complete shield for his body and head. 

One of the men crawled stealthily forward, with 
the counter as a shield, to hide his movements. In 
a moment he had Peter at close quarters, where 
Peter could not use the rifle upon him. A brutal 


THE RAID ON THE STORE 


257 


blow of the fist knocked Peter down, and the two 
boys were quickly bound with ropes. 

“ Goin’ to shoot me, was ye! ” Dawes looked 
down upon his captives, where they lay upon the 
floor. He wore his demoniac grin, as he continued: 
“ Well, now, I’ll tell you what Pm goin’ to do with 
you fellers. I ain’t goin’ to do any countin’. 
When we get what we want out of this here store 
we’re goin’ to burn it up and leave you two fellers 
to burn along with it. Then that Irishman and 
his gang’ll think you fellers got it on fire and got 
burned in it. You’re goin’ to have a nice warm 
time.” 

The four men lost no further time on the boys. 
They went feverishly at work ransacking Billy’s 
stock. 


XXVII 

THE SILENT INDIAN 


A SILENT, tall, lithe figure, hauling a flat- 
sled, and with a rifle resting in the hol¬ 
low of his arm, moved like a phantom 
through the forest, across bright splatches of moon¬ 
light and deep shadows, toward the store. The 
man came from the eastward, and as he approached 
the clearing, where the snow was hard-packed, he 
kicked ofl his snowshoes and tucked the slings 
under the lashings of his flatsled. In moccasined 
feet, treading with the silence and grace of a cat, 
he dropped his hauling rope, slid up to the window 
and peered through the glass. 

Stepping suddenly backward, the Indian brought 
the muzzle of his rifle down, and cocked the piece. 
Stealthily he stepped to the door, threw it open, 
and with rifle raised to his shoulder covered Dawes 
and the three men: 

“ Put up your hands! ” he ordered curtly. “ No 
foolin’! I shoot!” 

The keen black eyes peering along the barrel of 
the rifle, the beaked nose, the hawk-like, sinister 
face, left no doubt that he would shoot, and the 
eight pairs of hands w T ent up with alacrity. 

Indian Jake kicked the door shut behind him 
without taking his eyes from the men. 

“ Go around end of counter by door! ” he com¬ 
manded. 


258 



HE DROPPED HIS HAULING ROPE AND PEERED THROUGH THE GLASS 








THE SILENT INDIAN 


259 


The four went around the counter and lined up 
against the wall, where there were no shelves. 

“ Face wall, and keep hands up! ” he ordered. 

Dawes’ arms sagged at the elbow, as he and the 
men obeyed, and Indian Jake poked him in the 
small of the back with the muzzle of his rifle, with 
a sharp: 

“ You keep hands up! ” 

Backing down the store, where Peter and Lige 
lay bound, but keeping his eyes and rifle on the 
men, he reached with his left hand, and drawing 
his sheathknife leaned down and severed the cords 
that bound Peter’s wrists. 

Dawes made a sudden movement, and a bullet 
crashed into the woodwork above his head. 

“ Keep still and keep hands up! Next time I 
shoot for head!” Indian Jake threatened. 

Dawes straightened up. It was a salutary les u 
son. Indian Jake was not a man to be trifled with. 

With his hands free, Peter seized the sheath¬ 
knife Indian Jake had dropped, and severed the 
cords that bound his legs. Then he released Lige, 
and the two secured McCarthy’s and Billy Hand’s 
rifles. 

“ How do, Peter. How do, Lige.” Indian Jake 
grinned. “ Bige, you take gun and if men move 
you shoot. Peter, you get rope.” 

Indian Jake and Lige moved nearer the men. 

“ See here, Indian Jake,” asked Dawes. “ What 
you goin’ to do to us ? ” 

“ Tie you up.” Indian Jake gave a low laugh. 

“ I ain’t done anythin’ to you,” pleaded Dawes. 


260 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“You do plenty to my friends here, Peter and 
Lige.” 

“ Tell you what I’ll do. Let us fellers go and 
Til give you a thousand dollars and each of the 
kids a hundred dollars apiece. I was just foolin' 
with the kids, to scare 'em and tied 'em up for fun. 
I've got the money right here to pay you." 

“ Then you got other reason why you want me 
to let you go. I don't do it till I find out," Indian 
Jake declined. 

“ He were robbin' the store!" broke in Peter. 
“ He's wantin' to give us money belongs to the 
store!" 

“Ugh!" grunted Indian Jake. “We tie you 
up, Hawes. Don't want money, not me." 

“ I'll make it two thousand," pleaded Dawes. 

“ Don't want money. Like to see Peter tie ye, 
and see him and Lige have fun scarin' ye, like you 
have fun scarin' them." 

“ It's right here in cash," parleyed Dawes. “ I'll 
give ye yer price. How much do ye want ? ” 

“ Put yer hands down behind ye," ordered In¬ 
dian Jake, ignoring Dawes' offer, and at the same 
time poking Dawes in the small of the back with 
the muzzle of his rifle. 

Dawes obeyed. 

“ Tie his arms tight, Peter," directed Indian 
Jake. 

Peter was an expert with knots, and when he 
had finished, Dawes' arms were as securely tied 
as though held in a vise. 

“Now his legs," said Indian Jake, and Peter 
made an excellent job of the legs also. 


THE SILENT INDIAN 


261 


The other men begged and pleaded to be left un¬ 
bound, and to be permitted to depart, claiming 
that they were there under orders from Dawes, who 
they supposed was superintendent of the opera¬ 
tion, with authority to take anything from the store 
he wished to take. But Indian Jake was adamant 
to all pleas. 

The four men, with hands tied behind them, and 
arms lashed to bodies, and legs securely bound, 
were placed in a row on a bench, and to make them 
doubly secure a rope was passed behind and under 
the bench and tied to the leg and arm band of each, 
in such manner that none could stand unless all 
stood, and then the bench would hold them to¬ 
gether, precluding individual movement. 

Indian Jake now made a thorough search of 
every man. Dawes, with many oaths, protested, 
but his protests were disregarded and futile. From 
his pockets were removed the money and papers 
stolen from the safe. Nothing further of im¬ 
portance was discovered, beyond dangerous knives, 
which each man carried, and a revolver, hanging 
in a holster under Dawes’ left arm. 

Indian Jake placed the plunder on the counter, 
drew his pipe and a plug of tobacco from his 
pocket, and proceeded to shave the tobacco and fill 
his pipe quite as though nothing unusual had oc¬ 
curred. 

“ Now I have good smoke,” he remarked, as he 
lighted a shaving at the stove, and applying the 
blaze to his pipe puffed contentedly and seated him¬ 
self in a chair. “ Where’s Billy, Peter ? ” 


262 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


Peter explained what had happened, and told of 
the expedition to Deep Creek. 

“ Big fight, then,” remarked Indian Jake. 
“ Maybe somebody hurt.” 

“ I were thinkin’ that, and we’re like to be 
needin’ Doctor Joe,” said Peter. “ I were thinkin’ 
Lige and me better get the dogs, and be goin’ for 
Doctor Joe now. ’Tis what Doctor Joe would be 
wantin’.” 

“Ugh!” grunted Indian Jake. “You go for 
Doctor Joe. I wait here.” 

Peter and Lige hastened away. It was a three- 
mile walk on snowshoes to Let-In j Cove. 

“ ’Tis near midnight,” said Peter, as he and 
Lige hurried along. “If we is spry now we’ll be 
gettin’ home and havin’ the dogs harnessed and 
startin’ on our cruise by half-past one, whatever. 
With the fine footin’ for the dogs, we’ll be at The 
Jug by four, and Doctor Joe’ll be gettin’ back here 
by seven.” 

“Aye,” agreed Lige, “we’ll hurry fast as we 
can.” 

******** 

McCarthy, with Jim and Billy Hand and the 
men following, covered the distance from Deep 
Creep camp to the mill in record time. Every 
moment they expected to see the sky lighted by 
flames of the burning mill. It was half-past three, 
and morning twilight was breaking, when they 
reached the clearing at the mill. They were re¬ 
lieved when they found it as they had left it, and 
the cook on guard sleepily greeted them. 

“Annything happen ?” asked McCarthy anxiously. 


THE SILENT INDIAN 


263 


u Nothin’,” the cook yawned. “ Been quiet, and 
nobody showed up. I heard a shot a spell ago, but 
I kinder reckoned it was you fellers.” 

“We took no guns with us,” said McCarthy. 
“ Come on b’ys, over to the sthore.” 

“ I guess then Peter and Lige ain’t been both¬ 
ered neither,” remarked Billy, as they approached 
and saw the light burning in the store window. 
“ Like’s not they’re both asleep.” 

“ They do be havin’ company.” McCarthy 
paused as he observed Indian Jake’s flatsled. 
“ ’Tis an Indian outfit.” 

“ Some Indians in from huntin’,” observed Billy. 
“ They come in the spring and it’s about time for 
’em to show up. This time of year they travel 
some at night, when it’s moonlight like it is now.” 

“ By the howly saints! ” exclaimed McCarthy as 
he entered. “ If it ain’t me old frind Indian 
Jake! And there’s me frind Dawes and some of 
his foine min! And where’s Pether and Big©, 
Jake?” 

“ Went for Doctor Joe. Think maybe somebody 
get hurt at Deep Creek,” explained Indian Jake, 
sitting in his chair, quite as though he had not 
been away, and displaying no emotion or excite¬ 
ment. Motioning with his pipe toward the counter, 
he added: “ Money and papers on counter. Dawes 
had ’em.” 

“ Sure there do be the loot, and I’m glad Pether 
and Bige wint for Docther Joe. And I like the 
way yez tied up me frinds here to keep thim out 
of mischief! ” McCarthy grinned appreciatively. 


264 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


“ Peter tied ’em. Lige Held gun. I helped,” 
explained Indian Jake modestly. 

“Indian Jake!” Jim, who was behind, had 
just come in. He stared, scarcely knowing whether 
to believe his eyes. 

“ How do, Jim,” Indian Jake grinned. “ Have 
good trip out ? ” 

“ No,” announced Jim, “ but what happened to 
you ? ” 

“ Canoe smashed in big wind. Me, I bent over 
ankle. Hurt him bad. Couldn’t pack with bad 
foot. Couldn’t walk much. I make camp and wait 
for ankle to get better so I can walk. Snow come 
deep. I make snowshoe and flatsled while I wait. 
Lakes freeze. Maybe four, five weeks I wait. 
When I walk, I go to your camp. Find cache. 
You gone long time. No use looking for where 
you go to. Think maybe you get back all right. 
Easy trip out, and you good on trail. I go to 
Mingen on St. Lawrence. Just get back.” 

“ It wasn’t easy for me,” said Jim, and while 
McCarthy and Billy examined the recovered money 
and papers, and restored the more or less disman¬ 
tled store to order, Jim told Indian Jake briefly 
of his experiences, and finally of the suspicion 
Dawes had created that he had murdered Indian 
Jake. 

“Ugh!” Indian Jake grunted with contempt, 
glancing at Dawes. “ He think any man could 
hurt me ? ” Then he grinned. “ People think 
same about you that you think about me.” 

“ How about that wallet you left at the camp 
the morning you went away?” Jim asked sud- 


THE SILENT INDIAN 


265 


denly. “ Where did you get it ? I think I can 
believe your story after what has happened, but I 
can’t understand that.” 

“ Bimeby you know. Maybe soon now.” In¬ 
dian Jake grinned enigmatically. 

Dawes and his three men were sent to the bunk 
house, and put under guard. 

“ We’ll dispose of your case during the day,” 
said McCarthy, as Dawes was taken out. 

An hour later the injured men arrived. One 
had a broken arm. The others were more or less 
bruised and cut about the body. Jim, whose left 
arm was badly bruised and swollen as the result 
of the blow he had received in the fight, neverthe¬ 
less accompanied McCarthy to the bunk house and 
assisted him in rendering first aid to the injured, 
and making the men as comfortable as possible 
until Doctor Joe should arrive. 

“ I’m dead tired,” said Jim, when he and Mc¬ 
Carthy had returned to the store. “ I think I’ll 
lie down on Billy’s bed and rest until breakfast 
is ready.” 

Suddenly they heard voices outside. Bearing 
treachery, and a return attack by Dawes’ men, Jim 
and Billy sprang to their feet. 

“ It’s thim now,” said McCarthy, turning to In¬ 
dian Jake with a broad grin. 

“ Ugh,” grunted Indian Jake. 

The door opened and a big, bearded man, fol¬ 
lowed by an Indian, the upper part of whose left 
ear was missing, entered. 


XXVIII 

THE MYSTERY CLEARED 


D 


AD! ” exclaimed Jim. “ Oh, Dad! ” 

“ Yes, Jim, I’m back again.” Mr. 
MacLean held Jim’s right hand in his, 
and with a left hand on Jim’s shoulder, asked: 
“ How goes it, my son ? ” 

“ He’s made good, Misther MacLean,” grinned 
McCarthy. “ He’s not afraid of wurruk, sir, and 
he’s not afraid to fight either. Yez may be proud 
of havin’ the loikes of him for a son. He licked 
Dawes, single handed, in January, whin Dawes 
attacked him. He’s wan of me best min in the 
woods, and yez should have seen him slather the 
min on Deep Creek to-night with his club. ’Twas 


illigant! ” 

“Dad!” exclaimed Jim, disregarding McCar¬ 
thy’s eulogy. “Dad, I’ve mourned you as dead! 
Every one thought you were dead! Oh, I can’t 
express myself, Dad!” Jim’s voice choked with 
emotion, and he put an arm affectionately over his 
father’s shoulder. “ Oh, Dad, am I dreaming, or 
is it really you ? ” 

“ Xo dream about it, Jim. I’m here safe and 
sound, and glad to be here with you again.” Mr. 
MacLean laughed happily. 

“ What happened to you, Dad ? Where have 
you been? Tell me about it. I’ve been accusing 
Indian Jake of murdering and robbing you! ” He 
turned impetuously to Indian Jake, and offered the 
266 


THE MYSTERY CLEARED 


267 


half-breed bis band. ce Jake, I ask your forgive¬ 
ness! I’ve treated you pretty tougb! Will you 
forget it ? ” 

“ That’s all right.” Indian J ake laughed as he 
took Jim’s hand. “ I don’t care. I know that 
some time bimeby you know I didn’t hurt your 
father. I can’t tell you that your father pay me 
to go in country with you when you come here, if 
you want to go. And he pays me some money to 
do what Mr. McCarthy wants me to do. That’s 
how I get money. But I can’t tell you. Your 
father and Charlie go off when I go hunting deer. 
I know maybe they go while I’m away. I don’t 
know where they go to. I just tell you they go 
off, and I tell you your father pays me money for 
work. I tell truth. Your father gives me pocket- 
book with papers in. He tells me to leave him 
where you find him. I forget he never get wet. 
You find him where I leave him in camp, and you 
know your father never lose him there because he 
never been wet, and you know I put him there that 
morning for you to find. I forget to wet him first. 
I remember after I go. That makes me laugh.” 

“ Yes, it was all arranged,” said Mr. MacLean. 
“ Indian Jake, Pat McCarthy and Sandy Dum- 
phry were the only people that knew my plans, or 
that I was alive, except Charlie, here, who was 
with me. Pat and Sandy knew my reasons for 
going as I did. 

“ I was afraid I had spoiled you, Jim, by sup¬ 
plying you with too much money to spend and per¬ 
mitting you to go too much your own way. I 
asked you to work in my Canadian mill the sum- 


268 THE TESTING OF JIM MAG LEAN 


mer before I came here and before I sold that prop¬ 
erty. You begged off, and spent the summer vaca¬ 
tion having a good time. 

“ Then the first year in college you flunked some 
of your examinations, and I feared you were not 
taking the work seriously or taking advantage of 
your opportunities, but, like a great many sons of 
well-to-do parents, were going to college because 
you thought it was the thing to do and for the good 
time you got out of it, with very little thought to 
the benefits. A great many young men whose 
fathers supply them with all the money they wish, 
fail to take advantage of the opportunity of their 
life. They slip through college somehow, and all 
they seem to have learned is to consume quantities 
of cigarettes, play cards, dance, and be so-called 
sports. They are zero quantities, so far as useful¬ 
ness to the world is concerned. 

“ I didn’t want you to be that kind. I wished 
your life to be a useful and happy one. Happiness 
comes only to men who accomplish worth-while 
things in life. Every wasted hour, when one 
should be busy preparing oneself for one’s life- 
work, lessens the possibility for success in after 
years. 

“ The man who gets the best possible out of his 
college course has ten times the chance for big suc¬ 
cess that the man has who never goes to college. 
Whether he gets the best possible out of his course 
depends wholly upon his personal application and 
interest. If he is a slacker in college, and gets 
through in a slipshod manner, his course doesn’t 
do him much good. 


THE MYSTERY CLEARED 


269 


“ Jim, I don’t want you to be a slacker. I de¬ 
cided to put you squarely up against the problems 
of life in the hope that I might wake you up to 
an appreciation of their realities. I asked you to 
come here and work as a lumberjack that you might 
learn to know what physical work is, and to hold 
your place with other men of brawn. I’m glad 
you came and have shown the grit and stuff that 
is in you. 

“ I doubted Jagger’s honesty and I wished to 
test it. Therefore I told him nothing of my plans. 
I returned to Highville in the early part of the 
winter, and when I met Jagger I knew there was 
something wrong. He left the accounts with me, 
and excused himself on the plea of an important 
business engagement. I found enough to startle 
me, and a further investigation discovered to me 
that he had drawn a considerable amount from the 
trust fund and applied it to his own account In 
the meantime he had disappeared, and he is now a 
fugitive from justice. 

“ When I sold the lumber business at Highville 
to Jagger and Snooks, Snooks paid me cash, but 
Jagger paid his share in notes, which I accepted. 
His search for papers was largely in the hope that 
he would discover these notes and destroy them. 
They are in a bank vault. Sandy Dumphry knew 
their whereabouts, in case you had required them. 
The securities of which I told you, Jim, as well 
as other assets are with them. I also carry two 
personal bank accounts of which Sandy is aware, 
but of which Jagger knew nothing.” 


270 THE TESTING OF JIM MAC LEAN 


“I was sure there was something wrong with 
Jagger from the first day he called me in to see 
him,” said Jim. “ But where have you been all 
this time, Dad ? ” 

“ When Charlie and I left the height of land 
lake we went down to the St. Lawrence. I went 
then to St. Johns and secured a concession on the 
Deep Creek surveys.” 

“ Glory me! ” interrupted Pat. “ And yez got 
the concession ? ” 

“ Yes, that’s all fixed, Pat. Then I went to 
South America to look up lumber markets, and 
when I came back I did some lumber-looking on 
the north shore of the St. Lawrence. Sandy Dum- 
phry kept me posted as to what you were doing, 
Jim. Last fall, late, as I told you, I went to High- 
ville. Indian Jake had a telegram which Pat gave 
him to send to Sandy Dumphry, advising about 
Dawes. I had intended to wait and come on the 
ship later, but the telegram brought me down to 
the Saguenay at once, and I travelled with dogs 
from there to Mingen, where Indian Jake and 
Charlie were waiting to bring me across. 

“ Indian Jake wished to come in last night, and 
meet you as a surprise before I came. So Charlie 
and I camped just above here, and came this 
morning after daylight.” 

“ What papers were those you left in the cave ? ” 
asked Jim. 

“ Oh, the cave! ” Mr. MacLean chuckled. “ No 
papers of any importance. I wished to visit the 
famous cave, and I took a package of old papers 
there and left them, just to create a diversion for 


THE MYSTERY CLEARED 


271 


you, Jim. I thought a search for them would help 
to keep your mind occupied. Gossip carried the 
fact to Jagger’s ears, and he doubtless supposed the 
package contained the notes and other securities. 
That is the reason he was so anxious to find it.” 

“ He certainly was anxious,” said Jim. “ There 
are several interesting letters here that he wrote 
Dawes concerning it.” 

“ They will be interesting,” Mr. MacLean 
laughed. “ Indian Jake told me that he had been 
making continued search for the cave, and that he 
tried to employ Indian Jake to guide him to it.” 

“ I asked for a day or two off, and intended to 
go up Monday to look for it,” said Jim. 

“ We’ll wait till the weather gets better, and I’ll 
go along,” suggested Mr. MacLean. “ What did 
Dawes do to you here and to the operation ? ” 

“ What was done,” chuckled McCarthy, “ Jim 
did to Dawes. We’ll be sittin’ in Billy’s quarthers, 
and I’ll tell yez.” 

Back in Billy’s room the whole story of the hap¬ 
penings in camp from the time of Mr. MacLean’s 
disappearance to the fight the previous evening was 
recounted by McCarthy, while Jim told of his own 
experience with Jagger; the latter’s efforts to in¬ 
duce him to return to college and disregard his 
father’s wish that he work in camp; the effort to 
delay him, that the Gray Goose might sail with¬ 
out him; his going into the country with Indian 
Jake, and his adventurous return and rescue, and 
subsequent occurrences. 

“ I wished, as I have told you, to test Jagger’s 
honesty, for I must have an attorney that I can 


272 THE TESTING OF JIM MAO LEAN 


trust/’ said Mr. MacLean. “ But I had no ex¬ 
pectations he would go the lengths he did, or en¬ 
deavour to wreck the property here financially in 
order to gain control of it. 

“ I may say there’s a warrant out for Dawes, and 
an officer from Montreal will arrive on the first 
mail boat to arrest him as an escaped convict. In 
the meantime we must keep him under guard, and 
take care of his men.” 

There was the noise of arriving dog teams, and 
Jim went out to welcome Doctor Joe, with David 
and Andy Angus, and Peter and Lige Sparks. 
Mr. MacLean knew them all. He thanked Doctor 
Joe and the scouts for the assistance they had given 
Jim and the many services they had rendered the 
camps, and begged the privilege of equipping the 
boys with new complete outfits as a token of appre¬ 
ciation, an offer which Doctor Joe accepted. 

“ And don’t be afther leavin’ out Margaret,” 
said McCarthy. “ She do be a foine cook! ” 

“ We’ll surely remember her,” laughed Mr. 
MacLean. 

“ And now,” said Pat, “ ’tis toim to go to the 
cook house for breakfast, and me insides do be 
cryin’ for nourishment.” 

“ Jim,” said Mr. MacLean as they walked to 
breakfast, “ you’ll go back to college next fall. 
I’m satisfied that I have nothing to fear for you, 
and that you will make the most of your college 
course.” 

“ Thank you, Dad,” said Jim happily. “ I have 
a new vision of life.” 









N 


















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































